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Semi-Centennial  History 

of  the 

Patrons  of  Husbandry 


By 
THOMAS   CLARK  ATKESON 

Master  of  the  West  Virginia  State  Grange  and 
Past  Overseer  of  the  National  Grange 


NEW  YORK 
ORANGE  JUDD  COMPANY 

1 9 1 6 


Copyright  1916  by 
ORANGE  JUDD  COMPANY 

All  Rights  Reserved 


Printed  in  U.  S.  A. 


Ps  A  #7 

PREFACE 

At  the  close  of  the  first  half  century  of  the  existence 
of  the  Order  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  it  seems  entirely 
appropriate  that  someone  should  write  a  Semi-Cen- 
tennial  History  of  the  Order.  The  author  has  but  little 
inclination  to  undertake  such  an  important  and  re- 
sponsible task,  but  having  collected  a  mass  of  material 
bearing  upon  the  history  of  the  Grange,  and  having 
been  urged  by  many  members  of  the  Order  to  do  so, 
I  decided  to  go  through  this  material  and  arrange  it  for 
publication. 

I  do  not  feel  that  any  apology  is  necessary  for  pre- 
senting this  book  to  the  Grange  and  farmer  public,  not- 
withstanding its  many  imperfections.  Its  preparation 
has  afforded  me  agreeable  occupation,  and  I  feel  con- 
fident those  who  may  read  it  will  not  be  unprofitably 
engaged  while  doing  so. 

First  and  last,  much  has  been  written  about  the 
Patrons  of  Husbandry,  the  Grange,  and  the  "Granger 
Movement";  but,  aside  from  what  has  appeared  in  the 
newspapers  and  magazines  and  in  the  state  and  na- 
tional Journals  of  Proceedings,  nearly  all  this  writing 
has  been  confined  to  the  formative  period  and  the 
decade  from  1870  to  1880,  and  many  of  these  writers 
seem  to  have  reached  the  conclusion  that  the  Patrons 
of  Husbandry  disappeared  about  1880. 

A  number  of  books  have  been  published  dealing  with 
the  founding  and  early  history  of  the  Grange,  and  what 
they  called  the  "Granger  Movement,"  all  of  which  have 
been  more  or  less  helpful  in  preparing  this  history.  My 
trouble  has  not  been  to  find  material,  but  to  determine 
what  to  use  of  the  material  at  hand. 

The  last  35  or  40  years  of  Grange  history  has  not 
been  written,  and  the  only  source  of  information  has 

iii 


■ 


IV  PREFACE 

been  a  few  Grange  papers,  an  occasional  article  in  the 
magazines,  a  chapter  on  farm  organizations  in  some 
book  or  encyclopedia,  and  the  Journals  of  Proceedings 
of  the  State  and  National  Granges. 

On  going  through  these  thousands  of  printed  pages 
I  have  been  gratified  to  find  much  richness  of  historical 
data,  and  I  regret  my  inability  to  use  the  whole  of  it. 
Out  of  the  great  mass  I  have  endeavored  to  select  that 
which  would  most  clearly  show  the  attitude  of  the 
Grange  upon  the  many  social,  political,  educational  and 
economic  questions  that  have  come  before  it  for 
consideration. 

In  addition  to  these  sources  of  information,  I  have 
been  an  active  member  of  the  Order  for  more  than  30 
years  and  my  memory  covers  the  whole  period  of 
Grange  history,  so  upon  it  I  have  drawn,  to  some  ex- 
tent, for  a  correct  interpretation  of  historical  data  and 
events.  The  temptation  has  been  to  draw  even  more 
heavily  upon  my  memory,  and  give  more  of  personal 
recollections  of  the  people  with  whom  my  Grange  work 
has  thrown  me  in  intimate  contact ;  but,  realizing  that 
this  is  dangerous  ground,  I  have  indulged  in  this  but 
little. 

The  statistical  matter  printed  in  the  appendix  will 
doubtless  be  found  of  interest  to  members  of  the  Order 
and  others  who  may  be  seeking  information  about  the 
Grange. 

I  have  included  pictures  and  brief  biographical 
sketches  of  all  of  the  seven  "founders  of  the  Order." 
For  the  first  time  there  are  brought  into  one  volume 
pictures  and  short  biographical  sketches  of  all  the 
Masters  of  the  National  Grange.  To  secure  these  pic- 
tures and  such  data  as  I  have  been  able  to  secure, 
required  a  good  deal  of  correspondence,  but  as  time 
goes  on  this  information  will  be  more  and  more  valu- 
able. I  only  regret  that  I  cannot  include  pictures  and 
sketches  of  all  the  men  and  women  who  for  50  years 


PREFACE  V 

have  controlled  and  shaped  the  policy  of  the  National 
Grange. 

In  the  lists  of  delegates  to  the  National  Grange 
given  in  each  chapter  may  be  found  the  names  of  all 
the  Masters  of  each  State  Grange  from  the  beginning. 

I  have  generally  given  due  credit  in  the  proper  place 
in  connection  with  the  matter  used,  but  I  am  under 
special  obligations  to  Mrs.  Eva  S.  McDowell  for  the 
data  used  in  the  sketches  of  the  Founders  of  the  Order, 
and  to  Mr.  W.  N.  Howard  for  the  original  pictures  of 
the  seven  Founders,  as  well  as  to  a  number  of  other 
sisters  and  brothers  who  have  kindly  assisted  me  in 
securing  pictures  and  data  for  personal  sketches  and 
other  information,  to  all  of  whom  I  extend  my  sincere 
thanks. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  history  I  have  also  had  the 
invaluable  assistance  of  my  daughter,  Mary  Meek 
Atkeson,  in  collecting  the  data,  revising  the  copy,  and 
reading  the  proof  as  it  came  from  the  printers ;  and  for 
her  discriminating  co-operation  I  make  this  grateful 
acknowledgment. 

Trusting  that  this  book  may  prove  of  interest  and 
value  to  members  of  the  Grange  and  to  all  true  friends 
of  agriculture,  I  bespeak  for  it  a  careful  reading  and  in- 
dulgent consideration. 

T.  C.  ATKESON. 

Buffalo,  W.  Va.,  September  1st,  1916. 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

Introduction 1 

I     Conditions  Following  the  War — Beginning  of  the 

Order,    1865-1867 7 

II  Organization  of  the  National  Grange — Extension 
of  the  Order,  1867-1869 — First  and  Second  Ses- 
sions of  the  National  Grange 19 

III  Growth    of     the     Order,     1869-1872  — Third    and 

Fourth  Sessions  of  the  National  Grange  ...     30 

IV  The   Permanent  Organization   Effected,   1872-1873 

— Fifth    and    Sixth    Sessions    of    the    National 
Grange 43 

V     Dudley   W.    Adams's    Administration,    First    Year 

1873 — Seventh  Session  of  the  National  Grange  .     61 

VI  Dudley  W.  Adams's  Administration,  Last  Two 
Years,  1874-1875— Eighth  and  Ninth  Sessions  of 
the  National  Grange 74 

VII  John  T.  Jones's  Administration,  Two  Years,  1876- 
1877 — Tenth  and  Eleventh  Sessions  of  the  Na- 
tional   Grange 83 

VIII  Samuel  E.  Adams's  Administration,  Two  Years, 
1878-1879— Twelfth  and  Thirteenth  Sessions  of 
the  National  Grange 93 

IX  J.  J.  Woodman's  Administration,  First  Term,  Two 
Years,  1880-1881  —  Fourteenth  and  Fifteenth 
Sessions  of  the  National  Grange 102 

X  J.  J.  Woodman's  Administration,  Second  Term, 
Two  Years,  1882-1883 — Sixteenth  and  Seven- 
teenth Session  of  the  National  Grange   .     .     .115 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

XI  J.  J.  Woodman's  Administration,  Third  Term, 
Two  Years,  1884-1885— Eighteenth  and  Nine- 
teenth Sessions  of  the  National  Grange  .     .     .  125 

XII  Put.  Darden's  Administration,  First  Term,  Two 
Years,  1886-1887— Twentieth  and  Twenty-First 
Sessions  of  the  National  Grange 135 

Kill  Put.  Darden's,  James  Draper's  and  J.  H.  Brig- 
ham's  Administrations — Darden's  Second  Term 
—Died,  July  17th,  1888— Draper  Served  Five 
Months — Brigham  One  Year — Two  Years,  1888- 
1889 — Twenty-Second  and  Twenty-Third  Ses- 
sions of  the  National  Grange 146 

XIV  J.  H.  Brigham's  Administration — Second  Term, 
Two  Years,  1890-1891  —  Twenty-Fourth  and 
Twenty-Fifth  Sessions  of  the  National  Grange  .   155 

XV  J.  H.  Brigham's  Administration  —  Third  Term, 
Two  Years,  1892-1893  — Twenty-Sixth  and 
Twenty-Seventh  Sessions  of  the  National 
Grange 167 

XVI  J.  H.  Brigham's  Administration — Fourth  Term, 
Two  Years,  1894-1895  —  Twenty-Eighth  and 
Twenty-Ninth  Sessions  of  the  National  Grange  179 

XVII  J.  H.  Brigham's  Administration  —  Fifth  Term, 
Two  Years,  1896-1897— Thirtieth  and  Thirty- 
First  Sessions  of  the  National  Grange   .     .     .191 

XVIII  Aaron  Jones's  Administration — First  Term,  Two 
Years,  1898-1899— Thirty-Second  and  Thirty- 
Third  Sessions  of  the  National  Grange  .     .     .  203 

XIX  Aaron  Jones's  Administration  —  Second  Term, 
Two  Years,  1900-1901  —  Thirty-Fourth  and 
Thirty-Fifth  Sessions  of  the  National  Grange  .  211 

XX  Aaron  Jones's  Administration — Third  Term,  Two 
Years,  1902-1903  —  Thirty-Sixth  and  Thirty- 
Seventh  Sessions  of  the  National  Grange   .     .  220 

XXI  Aaron  Jones's  Administration  —  Fourth  Term, 
Two  Years,  1904-1905  —  Thirty-Eighth  and 
Thirty-Ninth  Sessions  of  the  National  Grange  .  234 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

XXII  N.  J.  Bachelder's  Administration — First  Term, 
Two  Years,  1906-1907  —  Fortieth  and  Forty- 
First  Sessions  of  the  National  Grange   .     .     .  245 

XXIII  N.  J.   Bachelder's   Administration — Second  Term, 

Two  Years,  1908-1909— Forty-Second  and  Forty- 
Third  Sessions  of  the  National  Grange  .     .     .  255 

XXIV  N.    J.    Bachelder's    Administration— Third    Term, 

Two  Years,  1910-1911— Forty-Fourth  and  Forty- 
Fifth  Sessions  of  the  National  Grange  .     .     .  266 

XXV  Oliver  Wilson's  Administration — First  Term,  Two 
Years,  1912-1915  —  Forty-Sixth  and  Forty- 
Seventh  Sessions  of  the  National  Grange    .     .  279 

XXVI  Oliver  Wilson's  Administration — Second  Term, 
Two  Years,  1914-1915— Forty-Eighth  and  Forty- 
Ninth  Sessions  of  the  National  Grange  .     .     .  291 

XXVII    What  the  Grange  Has  Achieved  in  Half  a  Cen- 
tury  306 

XXVIII     Biographical   Sketches 317 

Appendix 352 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


NAME  PICTURE  BIOGRAPHY 

PAGE  PAGE 

Birth    Place    Frontispiece 

Oliver    H.    Kelley 6  319 

William    Saunders    7  317 

John    Trimble    18  322 

William    M.    Ireland 19  327 

John  R.   Thompson 28  321 

Aaron   B.   Grosh 29  328 

Francis    M.    McDowell 42  324 

Caroline   A.    Hall 43  349 

Dudley    W.    Adams 82  330 

John    T.    Jones 83  331 

Jonathan  J.  Woodman 100  333 

Samuel   E.   Adams 101  332 

Israel    Putnam    Darden 134  335 

James    Draper    135  336 

Joseph    H.    Brigham 202  337 

Aaron    Jones    203  339 

Nahum    J.    Bachelder 278  340 

Oliver   Wilson    279  342 

Eva    S.    McDowell 342  343 

Sarah    G.    Baird 343  342 

T.    C.    Atkeson 346  345 

J.   W.   A.   Wright 348  347 

Charles    M.    Freeman 349  348 


INTRODUCTION 

Early  Co-operation  and  Organization  Among  Farmers 

Writers  on  economic  history  are  fond  of  referring  to 
the  early  colonial  period  as  the  golden  age  of  American 
democracy,  because  the  pioneer  age  was  remarkable 
for  its  spirit  of  friendly  co-operation  and  organization 
of  effort  among  the  people.  However,  it  is  probable 
that  this  co-operation  was  more  a  matter  of  necessity 
than  of  choice.  At  first  the  danger  from  Indian  raids 
forced  the  pioneers  to  settle  in  groups  and  organize 
their  forces  for  mutual  protection,  and  later  these  town- 
ships became  political  units,  in  which  there  was  much 
neighborly  assistance.  All  the  neighborhood  activities 
became  of  social  and  educational  importance.  Log 
rollings,  husking  bees,  apple  parings,  stump  pullings, 
house  raisings,  etc.,  all  the  hardest  labors  of  the  pioneer 
farms,  both  small  and  great  matters,  were  taken  care 
of  by  neighborly  friendliness.  And  at  these  meetings, 
no  doubt,  amid  the  general  gossip  of  the  township, 
they  discussed  the  changing  methods  of  farming  in  the 
American  wilderness  as  the  pioneers  adapted  their 
European  practices  to  the  new  conditions  of  soil  and 
climate  in  America. 

In  the  southern  colonies,  also,  there  was  much  co- 
operation— at  first  between  the  settlers — then  between 
the  country  gentlemen  on  their  great  plantations.  The 
plantation  in  Virginia,  instead  of  the  township,  was  the 
economic  and  co-operative  unit.  There  the  planter  and 
his  negro  slaves  worked  together  for  the  common  good 
at  the  production  of  cotton  and  tobacco — the  crops  best 
suited  to  unskilled  negro  labor.  The  neighborhood 
meetings,  however,  were  much  less  frequent  than  in 
New  England  and  were  chiefly  for  social,  political,  or 
religious  purposes.     Even  when  the  Virginia  gentle- 


2  PATRONS    OF    HUSBANDRY 

man  took  part  in  sheep-shearing  contests,  like  that  at 
"Arlington,"  it  was  not  so  much  for  helpfulness  as  a 
"social  gathering  to  promote  the  sheep-raising  in- 
dustry." 

Social  co-operation,  however,  was  well  developed, 
and  southern  families  were  early  noted  for  hospitality 
to  all  comers,  very  different  from  the  close  corpora- 
tions of  the  New  England  townships.  A  negro  was 
often  stationed  at  the  gate  to  extend  a  hearty  invita- 
tion to  all  passers-by  to  stop  at  the  "big  house"  for 
dinner,  and  the  poorer  people  were  no  less  generous 
with  their  simple  fare.  There  were  occasional  agricul- 
tural fairs  for  general  education,  and  gatherings  at  the 
county  seats  on  county  court  days  when  a  public  mar- 
ket of  live  stock  was  held,  horse  trading  was  generally 
carried  on,  and  later  the  horse  races  became  both  a 
social  and  an  educational  feature.  There  was  also 
frequent  exchange  of  negro  labor  for  the  heavier  tasks 
of  the  plantation,  and  neighborly  assistance  in  time  of 
need. 

Yet  this  early  age,  though  perhaps  golden  in  neigh- 
borly helpfulness,  was  far  from  ideal  in  general  co- 
operation. Each  group  lived  largely  to  itself,  each  fam- 
ily even  was  almost  independent,  except  in  times  of 
special  difficulties.  The  vegetables  and  grains  for  the 
family  were  grown  upon  the  home  farm,  cotton  or  wool 
was  spun  and  woven  into  clothing  and  household 
fabrics,  various  home  trades  were  carried  on  and  the 
surrounding  forests  supplied  game  or  pasture  for  the 
settler's  hogs.  There  was  little  visiting  between  town- 
ships; indeed,  a  man  was  not  allowed  to  entertain  his 
married  daughter  from  another  township  without  a 
special  permit,  strangers  were  "warned  out"  imme- 
diately, and  all  "foreigners"  were  prevented  from  buy- 
ing land. 

In  the  South  likewise  the  food  and  clothing  for  the 
family  and  slaves  were  either  produced  upon  the  plan- 
tation or  imported  direct  from  England  on  the  ships 


INTRODUCTION  3 

which  came  over  annually  for  the  great  crops  of  cot- 
ton and  tobacco.  In  the  West,  where  cotton,  flax  and 
wool  were  not  generally  grown,  the  skins  of  animals 
were  more  largely  used  for  clothing,  and  with  the  set- 
tler's crops  and  forests  full  of  game,  rendered  him  inde- 
pendent. Except  in  the  shipping  of  cotton  from  the 
South  to  New  England,  which  began  very  early,  there 
was  little  commerce  or  intercourse  between  the  states, 
and  no  unified  feeling  in  the  country  as  a  whole. 

It  was  a  period  of  contentment,  however,  for  the  new 
lands  to  the  west  held  chances  even  for  all;  practically 
all  the  people  were  farmers,  so  there  was  no  friction 
between  classes  or  lack  of  equality  before  the  law. 
Commerce  was  chiefly  by  barter  or  exchange  between 
neighbors  or  directly  with  the  English  ships,  and  there 
was  little  competition  between  the  products  of  different 
sections  of  the  country.  If  farming  did  not  prove 
profitable  in  one  section  the  farmer  could  always  sell 
out  and  move  westward  to  virgin  lands  which  were 
more  productive.  "No  man,"  said  Franklin,  "who  can 
have  a  piece  of  land  of  his  own,  sufficient  by  his  labor 
to  subsist  his  family  in  plenty,  is  poor  enough  to  be  a 
manufacturer  and  work  for  a  master."  These  condi- 
tions all  helped  to  establish  the  idea  of  the  farmer  as 
"lord  of  creation,"  the  independent  individualist  who 
did  things  in  his  own  way  and  "needed  not  to  fear  any 
king,"  and,  together  with  his  isolation,  brought  forth 
the  self-sufficient  type  of  American  farmer  who  found 
so  much  difficulty  in  fitting  himself  into  the  changed 
conditions  of  a  later  period. 

EARLY  AGRICULTURAL  SOCIETIES 

Washington  and  Franklin  were  among  the  founders 
of  the  first  farmers'  organizations  in  America.  The 
Philadelphia  Society  for  Promoting  Agriculture  was 
established  in  1785,  and,  patterned  after  it,  there  were 
about  a  dozen  such  societies  by  1800.    President  Wash- 


4  PATRONS'  OF  HUSBANDRY 

ington,  with  his  broad  vision,  regarded  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  farmers  of  so  much  importance  that  he  made 
it  the  subject  of  his  last  message  to  Congress,  calling 
attention,  especially,  to  the  fundamental  importance  of 
agriculture,  advocating  agricultural  fairs,  a  national 
agricultural  society  and  government  support  of  insti- 
tutions making  for  rural  progress.  In  1858  there  were 
over  90  agricultural  societies  in  this  country,  and  by 
i860  the  number  had  increased  to  about  1300,  most  of 
which  were  county  organizations  holding  annual  fairs.") 

NATIONAL  AID  FOR  AGRICULTURE 

Washington  had  early  recommended  legislation  to 
aid  and  encourage  the  fundamental  national  industry 
of  agriculture.  A  bill  was  introduced  in  Congress  cre- 
ating a  National  Board  of  Agriculture,  to  be  composed 
of  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  Members  of  the 
Cabinet  and  Members  of  Congress,  but  from  some 
cause  the  bill  failed  to  pass. 

In  1839  Congress  passed  the  first  act  in  the  interest 
of  agriculture  by  appropriating  the  sum  of  $500  to  be 
expended  by  the  Commissioner  of  Patents  in  collecting 
agricultural  statistics.  This  arrangement  made  the 
patent  office  "the  foster-father  of  agriculture,"  and 
small  annual  appropriations  were  made  for  this  pur- 
pose until  1862.  Each  year  the  Patent  Office  annually 
made  a  report  on  agriculture.  In  1862  the  Agricultural 
Bureau  was  made  an  independent  department,  with  a 
Commissioner  of  Agriculture  at  its  head.  This  was 
the  first  really  friendly  act  of  Congress  affecting  agri- 
culture, and,  strange  to  say,  was  enacted  in  the  midst 
of  the  Civil  War. 

ORGANIZATION 

The  idea  of  organizing  the  farmers  had  occurred  to 
many  agricultural  leaders,  and  farmers'  clubs  of  one 


INTRODUCTION  5 

kind  and  another  had  been  organized  here  and  there 
throughout  the  country.  Mr.  William  Saunders,  horti- 
culturist of  the  Bureau  of  Agriculture,  had  been  en- 
gaged in  organizing  and  conducting  associations  of 
gardeners  and  fruit  growers,  both  in  this  country  and 
Great  Britain.  As  early  as  1855  he  published  an  article 
in  the  American  Farmer,  in  which  he  deplored  the  lack 
of  organization  among  the  farmers,  showing  at  length 
some  of  the  unjust  burdens  the  farmers  were  compelled 
to  bear;  "that,  notwithstanding  they  were  largely  the 
majority  of  the  laboring  classes  and  far  more  numerous 
than  all  the  professions  combined,  they  were  seldom 
represented  in  legislative  bodies  or  cabinets,  and  had 
little  if  any  influence  in  the  government  of  the  coun- 
try." As  a  remedy  for  these  conditions,  he  recom- 
mended "the  formation  of  a  national  organization  to 
embrace  all  persons  interested  in  agricultural  pursuits, 
in  which  to  combine  their  power  and  influence  and 
thus  secure  their  full  and  proper  share  in  the  govern- 
ment of  the  states  and  nation." 

Just  what  kind  of  organization  Mr.  Saunders  had  in 
mind  at  that  time  is  not  very  clear,  but  that  he  felt  and 
realized  the  importance  of  farmers  getting  together 
and  doing  things  for  themselves,  there  can  be  no  doubt. 

A  FARMER  FRATERNITY 

Practically  all  the  important  events  which  make  for 
human  betterment  have  developed  from  small  begin- 
nings and  have  been  the  result  of  more  or  less  slow 
growth  rather  than  the  outgrowth  of  some  sudden  in- 
spiration or  circumstance.  Usually  they  are  the  result 
of  human  aspiration  for  better  things,  slowly  taking 
shape  through  a  long  series  of  years  culminating  in  the 
sudden  presentation  of  some  great  necessity.  The 
founding  of  the  Order  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry  was 
no  exception  to  this  general  rule. 

Every  movement  for  human  liberty  and  the  uplifting 


6  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

of  mankind  into  higher  civilization  has  been  set  in 
motion  by  some  individual  whom  God  in  the  fullness 
of  time  seems  to  have  raised  up  for  that  particular  pur- 
pose. Every  important  movement  since  the  begin- 
ning of  history,  whether  in  politics,  religion,  or 
economics,  has  brought  to  the  surface  some  great 
leader  fully  equipped  for  the  occasion.  Men  do  not 
make  the  occasion,  but  the  occasion  develops  men; 
and  in  every  great  social  upheaval  natural  leaders  have 
been  developed,  and  more  frequently  from  obscurity 
than  otherwise. 

The  man  of  destiny,  so  far  as  the  Order  of  Patrons 
of  Husbandry  is  concerned,  was  Oliver  Hudson  Kelley, 
and  yet  his  conception  was  only  that  of  applying  the 
principle  of  binding  together  in  a  fraternal  order  the 
workers  on  the  farms,  as  the  builders  of  Solomon's 
temple  were  bound  together  in  the  oldest  of  all  secret 
orders.  Mr.  Kelly's  chief  honor  was  not  in  conceiving 
the  idea,  but  in  the  zealous  heroism  with  which  he 
made  the  conception  a  reality.  With  all  this  he  could 
not  have  done  his  work  alone,  and  full  credit  must  be 
given  all  his  associate  founders  and  full  meed  of  honor 
and  praise  must  be  extended  to  all  the  splendid  army 
of  men  and  women  who  rallied  to  the  cause  and  con- 
tributed so  grandly  to  make  the  Order  of  Patrons  of 
Husbandry  the  greatest  and  most  influential  organiza- 
tion of  farmers  the  world  has  ever  known. 


Oliver  Hudson  Kelley,  one  of  the  Founders  and  first  Secre- 
tary of  the  National  Grange. 


William  Saunders,  one  of  the   Founders  and  first  Master  of 

the   National   Grange. 


CHAPTER    I 

Conditions    Following    the    War — Beginning    of    the 

Order,  1865-1867 

During  the  years  while  the  struggle  of  the  Civil  War 
was  in  progress  the  whole  machinery  of  agriculture  and 
commerce  was  thrown  out  of  gear.  The  drain  into  the 
armies  carried  away  the  labor  from  the  country  behind. 
Hundreds  of  thousands  of  the  best  men  on  each  side  of 
Mason  and  Dixon's  line  were  at  the  front,  while  at 
home,  in  the  factories  and  on  the  farms,  were  left  the 
less  efficient  class  of  the  community.  After  four  years 
of  strife  the  war  between  the  states  came  to  a  close  in 
the  spring  of  1865  ;  President  Lincoln  was  assassinated 
soon  after,  and  the  whole  country  was  in  political,  social 
and  economic  chaos.  Much  of  the  best  blood  of  the 
nation  had  been  spilled  upon  the  battlefield,  and  deep- 
seated  hatred  existed  between  the  people  of  the  North 
and  the  South. 

However,  the  greatest  factor  in  the  restlessness  and 
discontent  was  in  the  general  economic  change.  For 
many  years  the  tendency  had  been  toward  the  factory 
system,  as  distinct  from  domestic  manufacture,  espe- 
cially in  New  England.  During  the  war  large  factories 
had  been  built  to  furnish  clothing  and  other  supplies 
for  the  Union  armies,  and  the  building  of  railroads  had 
a  further  tendency  to  centralize  the  manufacturing 
plants.  The  multiplication  of  labor-saving  machinery 
also  greatly  facilitated  the  concentration  of  the  factory 
system,  with  the  beginning  of  a  combination  of  fac- 
tories and  the  formation  of  large  corporations.  The 
improved  labor-saving  machines  temporarily  threw  out 
of  employment  the  workers  in  many  departments  of 
labor,  which  caused  much  dissatisfaction  and  restless- 
ness among  the  labor  classes.      While  these  changes 

7 


8  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

were  inevitable,  their  immediate  effect  was  to  produce 
a  state  of  eg0JiQmic_jV5taxiare,  which  resulted  in  a  great 
activity  among  labor  agitators  and  a  large  increase  in 
labor  organizations.  The  power  and  necessity  of  organ- 
ization were  being  realized  by  both  capital  and  labor, 
and  both  were  organizing  for  defense  and  offense. 
Only  the  scattered  and  leaderless  farmers  were  the 
helpless  prey  of  all  other  classes  and  interests. 

In  addition  to  this  the  financial  demands  of  the  Civil 
War  had  resulted  in  the  establishment  of  an  unsys- 
tematic tariff  law  with  high  tariff  rates.  As  a  war 
measure  this  may  have  been  justifiable,  but  its  con- 
tinuance after  the  war  was  largely  secured  through  the 
influence  of  the  protected  manufacturers.  "This  tariff, 
as  all  high  protective  tariffs  in  a  country  whose  pro- 
duction exceeds  the  demand  for  home  consumption, 
bore  with  especial  severity  upon  the  farmers,  particu- 
larly in  the  staple-producing  sections  of  the  South  and 
West.  The  price  which  the  farmer  received  for  his 
cotton  and  grain  was  fixed  by  the  sale  of  the  surplus 
in  the  unprotected  markets  of  the  world,  while  the 
cost  of  nearly  everything  he  consumed,  whether  im- 
ported or  of  domestic  production,  was  vastly  enhanced 
for  the  benefit  of  manufacturers.  Even  the  home  mar- 
ket idea  proved  a  delusion  when  the  agricultural  pro- 
duction was  continually  in  excess  of  the  needs  of  the 
market."  Particularly  in  the  North  and  East  the 
money  of  the  country  was  largely  concentrated  in  the 
financial  centers,  and  mainly  dominated  and  con- 
trolled by  the  protected  manufacturing,  transportation 
and  other  corporations,  and  manipulated  by  capitalists 
without  much  reference  to  the  common  welfare. 

The  extravagance  growing  out  of  and  following  the 
Civil  War  was  manifest  everywhere,  not  only  in  indi- 
viduals, but  also  in  the  national,  state,  county  and 
municipal  governmental  affairs,  resulting  in  many  in- 
stances in  corruption  and  waste.  Demands  for  more 
revenue  became  importunate  and  taxation  was  greatly 


CONDITIONS  FOLLOWING  THE  WAR  O, 

increased.  The  farmer's  property,  being  almost  entirely 
in  land  and  tangible  property, was  taxed  at  its  full  value, 
while  much  of  the  wealth  of  the  cities  was  intangible, 
and  so  almost  entirely  escaped  taxation.  The  burden 
of  taxation  upon  the  farmers  became  almost  unbear- 
able, and  a  demand  for  tax  reform  and  economy  in 
the  administration  of  government  became  insistent. 
The  financial  condition  of  the  whole  country  was  very 
unsatisfactory,  and  the  farmers  were  beginning  to  feel 
it  most  sorely. 

In  the  North  the  thousands  of  returning  soldiers 
caused  a  sudden  glut  in  the  labor  market.  The  farmers 
found  their  lands  much  depleted  by  wasteful  farming, 
so  that  even  with  their  nearby  markets  their  scanty 
produce  was  not  profitable.  Many  set  out  at  once  for 
the  practically  free  land  of  the  West,  the  most  fertile 
section  of  the  world.  The  result  was  immediate.  The 
farm  lands  in  the  East  began  to  depreciate,  and  a  read- 
justment of  eastern  agriculture  became  a  necessity. 

As  the  flood  of  migration  spread  over  the  Mississippi 
valley  and  the  vast  fertile  territory  westward,  the  most 
vital  problem  through  that  great  agricultural  empire 
was  how  to  send  the  products  of  the  farm  to  the  east- 
ern consumer.  The  transportation  problem  in  the 
United  States  had  come  to  be  a  railroad  problem,  and 
with  the  close  of  the  war  the  building  of  railroads  was 
begun  upon  a  gigantic  scale.  A  network  of  railroads 
rapidly  spread  over  the  entire  Mississippi  valley,  soon 
crossing  the  plains  and  the  mountains  to  the  Pacific 
coast.  Railroads  and  railroad  problems  were  upper- 
most in  the  minds  of  the  farmers,  for  they  were  vitally 
associated  with  his  life  and  material  interests.  A  railroad 
was  looked  upon  as  a  great  blessing,  and  all  sorts  of  wild 
inducements  were  offered  to  its  promoters  and  builders. 

After  a  few  years  under  these  conditions,  however, 
many  things  connected  with  railroad  management  be- 
came far  from  just  and  equitable.  Soon  the  railroads 
were  charged  with  all  kinds  of  unfair  discrimination 


10  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

in  fixing  traffic  rates,  and  an  arrogant  and  uncompro- 
mising attitude  toward  the  individual  shipper. 

The  mercantile  system  then  in  vogue  throughout 
the  West  was  conducted  in  such  a  conscienceless  man- 
ner as  to  create  a  deep-seated  antagonism  among  the 
farmers.  A  great  cry  went  up  for  eliminating  the 
middleman  and  for  co-operation  in  buying  and  selling. 
The  chief  necessity  of  the  pioneer  farmer  was  for  capi- 
tal. This  must  be  furnished  by  the  eastern  capitalist, 
who  established  a  high-rate  mortgage  system,  which 
spread  widely  over  the  farms  of  the  Middle  West. 
Soon  foreclosures  were  frequent  and  great  distress 
prevailed,  causing  much  antagonism  toward  the  east- 
ern financier. 

All  these  things  were  used  by  demagogues  and  poli- 
ticians for  the  purpose  of  inflaming  the  farmers  in  par- 
ticular, and  the  people  of  the  West  generally.  One  of 
the  natural  results  of  the  condition  was  the  proposal 
of  a  multitude  of  impractical  remedies,  which  were 
quite  naturally  combated  by  the  more  conservative 
sentiment  of  the  East. 

In  the  South  conditions  were  even  more  difficult. 
With  the  close  of  the  war  the  Confederate  soldiers  re- 
turned with  sad  hearts  to  their  devastated  homes. 
Their  land  was  only  half  its  former  value,  and  fully 
one-third  of  the  male  population  had  been  killed  or 
incapacitated  for  work.  The  once  productive  cotton 
fields  were  a  desert  waste,  many  of  the  homes  had  been 
destroyed,  along  with  the  fences,  barns  and  other 
buildings.  The  freed  negroes  naturally  gravitated 
toward  the  towns,  and  worked  only  under  the*  compul- 
sion of  absolute  want.  The  large  landholder  was  un- 
used to  manual  labor,  and  the  lack  of  money  made  a 
wage  system  absolutely  impossible.  Moreover,  the 
southern  farmer  was  in  general  quite  unacquainted 
with  the  methods  of  general  farming  as  practiced  in 
the  East,  which  would  have  placed  him  upon  a  more 
nearly  independent  basis.     The  result  of  these  condi- 


CONDITIONS  FOLLOWING  THE  WAR  II 

tions  was  the  fastening  of  a  ruinous  credit  system  upon 
the  South.  The  credit  system,  based  upon  crop  mort- 
gages, fostered  the  growing  of  cotton  until  the  market 
was  continually  glutted,  caused  a  general  raising  of 
prices  on  mercantile  wares,  and  often  left  the  farmer 
at  the  end  of  the  year  in  debt  to  the  merchant  who  had 
advanced  him  credit.  Not  only  must  the  farmer  buy 
"protected"  articles,  but  he  must  sell  his  cotton  crop 
to  the  protected  mills  of  the  North  at  their  own  prices. 

Unable  as  he  was  to  control  either  capital  or  labor, 
product  or  market,  the  bitterness  caused  by  what  he 
deemed  the  unjust  war  brought  on  by  "the  Yankees" 
was  increased  by  the  extravagant  and  arrogant  "carpet- 
baggers," government  measures  of  reconstruction,  and 
the  difficulties  with  the  freed  negroes,  and  the  southern 
farmer  was  prostrate  under  the  conditions  of  his  time. 
Well-meaning,  patriotic  and  humanity-loving  people  in 
the  North,  as  well  as  in  the  South,  were  giving  their 
best  thought  to  some  solution  of  the  problem,  and  it 
was  much  discussed  in  official  circles  in  Washington. 

The  war  had  scarcely  come  to  a  close  before  the  gov- 
ernment authorities  at  Washington,  and  especially 
President  Johnson  and  Commissioner  of  Agriculture 
Isaac  Newton,  were  considering  ways  and  means  of 
getting  more  accurate  information  concerning  the  agri- 
cultural and  economic  situation  in  the  South  in  order 
to  be  of  service  in  the  solution  of  its  problems.  The 
first  move,  however,  in  this  direction  was  made  in  the 
following  brief  letter,  which  is  of  importance  to  the 
future  history  of  agriculture,  as  well  as  of  the  Patrons 
of  Husbandry: 

"Department  of  Agriculture, 
"Washington,  D.  C,  October  20th,  1865. 
"O.  H.  Kelley,  Esq.,  Itasca,  Minn. 

"Dear  Sir — I  am  exceedingly  anxious  to  have  you  come  to  this 
city  by  the  1st  proximo,  if  you  can  possibly  arrange  to  be  here  by 
that  time.  I  wish  to  see  you  on  special  business  requiring  your 
presence.     I  am,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

"Isaac  Newton,  Commissioner." 


12  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

Oliver  Hudson  Kelley,  to  whom  this  letter  was 
written,  was  a  native  of  Boston,  who  had  in  1849  taken 
up  a  government  claim  at  Itasca,  Minn.,  and  become 
a  farmer,  in  which  occupation  he  worked  until 
1864,  when  he  went  to  Washington  to  accept  a  clerk- 
ship in  the  Department  of  Agriculture.  Here  he  had 
met  Commissioner  Newton,  who  was  so  favorably  im- 
pressed with  his  personality  that  he  had  selected  him 
as  the  representative  of  the  department  to  visit  the 
southern  states.  In  the  spring  of  1865  Mr.  Kelley  had 
returned  to  Minnesota  to  oversee  his  farming  opera- 
tions, where  he  remained  until  his  receipt  of  the  letter 
quoted  above. 

Mr.  Kelley  tells  us  in  his  "History  of  the  Patrons  of 
Husbandry"  that  he  reached  Washington  early  in  No- 
vember, and  was  assured  that  he  should  have  an  ap- 
pointment to  go  South  for  the  winter  for  the  purpose 
of  collecting  information  and  reporting  on  agricultural 
conditions.  Mr.  Kelley  expected  the  appointment  to 
be  made  at  once,  but  after  waiting  rather  impatiently 
for  several  weeks  he  found  Mr.  Newton  wavering  in 
relation  to  the  fulfillment  of  his  promise.  It  is  probable 
that  the  Commissioner,  because  of  the  political  condi- 
tions then  prevailing  in  the  southern  states,  had  become 
somewhat  doubtful  concerning  the  wisdom  or  expe- 
diency of  sending  a  representative  of  the  government 
among  the  people  who  had  so  recently  been  at  war, 
and  whose  resentment  toward  northern  men  was  still 
very  bitter. 

Mr.  Kelley,  however,  was  not  to  be  turned  from  his 
purpose  by  any  weakening  on  the  part  of  his  superior. 
After  consulting  with  Dr.  John  Trimble,  with  whom  he 
had  become  acquainted  during  his  former  stay  in 
Washington,  he  succeeded  early  in  January  in  getting 
an  interview  with  President  Johnson.  He  found  the 
President  very  much  interested  in  the  project,  and 
before  the  end  of  the  interview  had  been  assured  that 
he  should  be  appointed.   On  that  very  day  Mr.  Kelley 


CONDITIONS   FOLLOWING   THE   WAR  13 

was  given  his  commission,  dated  January  I,  1866,  as 
agent  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  "to  proceed 
immediately  through  the  states  lately  in  hostility 
against  the  government,  to  procure  such  information, 
and  report  the  same  to  this  department  for  publication." 

Mr.  Kelley  left  Washington  January  13,  1866,  on  his 
peaceful  mission  to  the  South.  He  visited  Virginia 
and  North  Carolina  and  arrived  at  Charleston,  S.  C, 
January  29,  where  he  remained  for  six  weeks,  visit- 
ing rice  and  cotton  plantations  and  securing  valu- 
able information  from  the  planters  as  to  conditions 
in  that  section.  Apparently  he  did  not  meet  the 
resentment  which  the  Commissioner  had  feared, 
although  he  says  in  his  account :  "In  my  intercourse 
with  the  planters  it  was  evidently  no  disadvantage  to 
be  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  as  such  I 
was  cordially  received."  The  hospitality  accorded  him 
by  virtue  of  his  membership  in  the  great  Masonic  fra- 
ternity gave  him  the  first  suggestion  of  the  thought 
that  culminated  in  the  great  farmers'  organization. 

In  his  contact  with  southern  conditions  he  reached 
the  conclusion  that  the  politicians  would  never  restore 
peace  between  the  recently  warring  sections,  and  that 
the  only  solution  of  the  situation  was  that  the  people 
of  the  North  and  South  must  know  each  other  better, 
feel  their  human  brotherhood  and  thereby  abolish 
sectionalism  in  the  nation.  Wherever  he  went  on  his 
journey  through  the  South  the  ruin,  desolation,  bitter- 
ness and  disorder  served  to  fix  more  and  more  firmly 
in  his  mind  the  idea  of  an  association  of  farmers.  Even 
the  view  of  the  Mississippi  River  served  only  to  re- 
mind him  of  a  great  national  organization  in  which  all 
the  tributary  branches  flowed  into  one  great  brother- 
hood. 

Mr.  Kelley  returned  to  Washington  April  21  and  made 
his  report  to  the  department.  Before  returning  to  his 
farm  he  went  to  Boston  to  visit  his  niece,  Miss  Carrie 
A.  Hall,  a  woman  of  very  rare  intelligence.     While  in 


14  PATRONS   OF   HUSBANDRY 

the  South  he  had  written  her  of  his  idea  for  a  farmers' 
association  and  had  been  much  encouraged  by  the 
ready  sympathy  and  understanding-  of  her  reply.  Now 
he  laid  before  her  his  general  plan  as  it  had  come  to 
him  from  time  to  time,  and  asked  for  her  criticism. 
Miss  Hall's  enthusiasm  over  the  plan  was  as  great  as 
his  own,  and  among  other  criticisms  she  suggested 
that  women  should  be  given  full  membership  in  the 
society.  Mr.  Kelley  immediately  realized  the  justice 
of  this  suggestion  and  incorporated  it  in  all  his  future 
plans  for  the  organization. 

Mr.  Kelley  spent  the  succeeding  summer  on  his  farm 
in  Minnesota,  but  returned  to  Washington  in  Novem- 
ber, and  received  an  appointment  in  the  Postoffice  De- 
partment. In  May,  1867,  he  made  the  acquaintance  of 
W.  M.  Ireland,  Chief  Clerk  of  the  Finance  Office 
of  the  Postomce  Department,  whom  he  found  to  be 
not  only  a  prominent  Mason,  but  also  a  man  after  his 
own  heart  in  his  enthusiasm  for  agriculture.  Very 
soon  Mr.  Kelley  was  telling  him  all  his  plans  for  a 
great  agricultural  fraternity,  and  was  so  much  encour- 
aged by  his  sympathy  that  he  even  began  penciling  out 
a  plan  for  a  Ritual.  The  Degree  of  Maid  was  first 
written,  read  to  Mr.  Ireland,  and  then  sent  to  Miss  Hall 
for  her  approval. 

During  the  summer  he  met  William  Saunders  of  the 
Department  of  Agriculture,  a  man  who  had  had  con- 
siderable experience  as  an  organizer  of  gardeners'  so- 
cieties and  an  authority  on  agricultural  affairs,  and  Mr. 
Kelley  felt  that  on  this  account  his  indorsement  of  the 
proposed  organization  was  of  the  very  highest  impor- 
tance. He  introduced  him  to  Mr.  Ireland,  and  the 
three  talked  over  the  proposed  association  in  detail. 
Mr.  Saunders  was  not  so  sanguine  as  were  Mr.  Kelley 
and  Mr.  Ireland  concerning  the  success  of  the  proposed 
association,  probably  because  he  had  had  more  practi- 
cal experience  in  organizing  country  people.  He  told 
them,  however,  that  he  was  soon  to  visit  St.  Louis  to 


CONDITIONS  FOLLOWING  THE  WAR  15 

attend  a  meeting-  of  the  United  States  Pomological 
Society,  and  that  if  they  would  give  him  an  outline  of 
the  proposed  association  he  would  submit  it  to  some  of 
those  he  should  meet  and  see  how  it  would  take  with 
them. 

An  outline  of  considerable  length  was  prepared  by 
Mr.  Kelley,  setting  forth  the  general  lack  of  interest  in 
progressive  agriculture — that  the  agricultural  news- 
papers were  very  little  read,  and  that  the  agricultural 
societies  and  fairs  had  failed  to  secure  a  real  interest. 
He  also  explained  how  the  proposed  organization  was 
to  help  these  conditions  by  the  teachings  of  the  Ritual, 
by  lecturers  from  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  by 
discussions  among  the  farmers  themselves  and  by  bind- 
ing the  farmers  together  in  a  good  organization.  Mr. 
Saunders  took  this  outline  with  him  and  later  wrote  to 
Mr.  Kelley,  "I  have  mentioned  your  Order  to  a  good 
many,  and  all  agree  in  considering  the  thing  a  grand 
idea." 

His  letter  gave  a  very  decided  pleasure  to  the  two 
friends  who  had  been  anxiously  waiting  at  Washing- 
ton, for,  as  Mr.  Kelley  says,  his  disposition  was  such 
that  it  took  very  few  cheerful  words  to  stimulate 
him.  He  and  Mr.  Ireland,  with  happy  hearts,  met 
every  evening  in  Mr.  Kelley's  room  at  the  hotel  and 
spent  some  time  smoking  and  chatting  over  the  plans 
and  prospects  for  the  Order. 

In  these  meetings  they  were  usually  joined  by  Dr. 
John  Trimble,  whom  Mr.  Kelley  had  known  since  his 
first  year  in  Washington.  Dr.  Trimble  had  formerly 
been  a  minister  in  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church, 
but  was  at  this  time  a  clerk  in  the  Treasury  Depart- 
ment, engaged  in  the  settlement  of  war  claims.  His 
former  residence  in  the  South,  as  well  as  his  knowledge 
of  the  general  conditions  following  the  war,  gave  him  a 
keen  interest  in  the  proposed  Order,  although  he  saw 
the  difficulties  in  its  way. 


l6  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

Mr.  Kelley  admitted  no  difficulties,  however.  A 
letter  of  inquiry  from  Anson  Bartlett  of  North  Madi- 
son, O.,  one  of  the  men  to  whom  Mr.  Saunders  had 
talked,  was  answered  immediately  with  a  most  glow- 
ing description  of  the  Order,  which  was  in  twelve 
months  to  number  its  members  "by  the  million."  "I 
long,"  Mr.  Kelley  wrote,  "to  see  the  great  army  of  pro- 
ducers in  our  country  turn  their  eyes  up  from  their 
work;  stir  up  those  brains,  now  mere  machines;  get 
them  in  motion  in  the  right  direction;  make  them  dis- 
card their  old  almanacs  and  signs  of  the  moon ;  and 
just  imagine  what  a  volcanic  eruption  we  can  produce 
in  this  age !  Everything  is  progressing.  Why  not  the 
farmers  ?"  Among  other  definite  plans  for  the  develop- 
ment of  the  farmers,  he  said,  "let  the  Department  of 
Agriculture  send  out  the  most  capable  and  talented 
men  in  the  country  to  lecture  before  the  lodges  upon 
horticulture,  etc.,  giving  illustrated  lectures."  This 
statement  is  of  especial  interest  because  Mr.  Kelley's 
suggestion  has  since  developed  into  the  farmers'  insti- 
tutes, movable  schools  of  agriculture  and  agricultural 
extension  work,  which  have  become  so  widely  popular. 

Mr.  Bartlett  answered  Mr.  Kelley's  letter  promptly 
with  so  much  enthusiasm  and  so  many  good  sugges- 
tions that  he  was  at  once  accepted  as  one  of  the  coun- 
cilors. Two  other  persons  to  whom  Mr.  Saunders  had 
spoken,  William  Muir  of  St.  Louis.  Mo.,  and  A.  S. 
Moss  of  Fredonia,  N.  Y.,  wrote  for  information 
concerning  the  new  Order.  These  letters  caused  Mr. 
Kelley  to  build  "large  air  castles,"  much  to  the  amuse- 
ment of  his  friend,  Dr.  Trimble,  who  called  himself 
the  "official  wet  blanket"  on  the  too  sanguine  spirits  of 
his  associates. 

In  order  to  interest  the  farmers  in  different  parts  of 
the  country  a  rough  circular  statement  was  printed  on 
cheap  paper  and  sent  broadcast  to  all  the  addresses 
they  could  find.     The  circular  set  forth  that : 

"A  number  of  gentlemen  engaged  in  agriculture  and 


CONDITIONS  FOLLOWING  THE  WAR  1 7 

its  kindred  branches  in  different  states  are  now  perfect- 
ing a  Ritual  for  an  Order,  to  be  composed  wholly  of 
persons,  male  and  female,  directly  interested  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits. 

"The  Order  will  secure  to  its  members  all  the  advan- 
tages of  Masonry,  but  while  it  is  speculative,  this  will 
be  operative — its  main  object  being  to  encourage  and 
advance  education  in  all  branches  of  agriculture.  .  .  . 

"The  whole,  it  is  believed,  will  do  much  toward  ele- 
vating our  occupation,  as  well  as  establishing  a  unity 
of  sentiment  among  the  farmers  of  the  country,  and 
materially  increase  the  circulation  of  publications  de- 
voted to  the  interests  of  agriculture,  and  consequent 
increase  of  knowledge.  .  .  . 

"Should  such  an  organization  meet  your  approval, 
and  you  see  fit  to  offer  any  suggestions  to  enable  the 
originators  to  make  further  improvements  before  it  is 
introduced  to  the  public,  the  same  will  be  most  cor- 
dially received  and  duly  considered." 

Many  persons  answered,  and  a  lively  correspondence 
was  begun  with  a  number  of  farmers. 

The  proposed  Order  had  not  yet  been  named,  al- 
though so  many  titles  had  been  suggested  that  the  vo- 
cabulary of  agricultural  terms  was  well-nigh  ex- 
hausted. Among  the  names  suggested  by  various  peo- 
ple were:  Independent  Farmers;  Independent  Order 
of  Progressive  Farmers  ;  Knights  of  the  Plow ;  Knights 
of  the  Flail ;  Knights  of  the  Sickle ;  Lords  of  the  Soil ; 
Sons  of  the  Soil;  Brethren  of  the  Vine;  Yeoman  of 
Columbia ;  Order  of  Jacob — with  a  few  facetious  ones, 
like  Rustics,  Mushrooms  and  Fungi.  The  councilors, 
however,  rejected  each  of  these  for  various  reasons. 
On  November  i,  1867,  Mr.  Kelley  wrote  Mr.  Bartlett 
suggesting  the  name  "League  of  Husbandry,"  and  Mr. 
Rartlett,  replying,  added  "Patrons  of  Industry"  to  the 
list.  Mr.  Kelley  says  in  his  history :  "That  will  settle 
the  question  as  to  where  the  name  originated,  for,  on 


s 


l8  PATRONS    OF    HUSBANDRY 

the  receipt,  I  substituted  the  word  husbandry,  making 
it  Patrons  of  Husbandry." 

The  name  for  the  subordinate  bodies  was  also  the 
subject  of  much  discussion.  It  was  agreed  that  it 
should  represent  something  about  the  farm,  but  what? 
Various  people  suggested  Vineyards,  Gardens,  Groves, 
Fields,  Farms,  Bee  Hives,  Arbors,  Temples  and  Home- 
steads, of  which  the  favorite  seemed  to  be  Homesteads. 
About  this  time,  however,  the  advertisement  of  a  pop- 
ular novel  caught  Mr.  Kelley's  attention,  because  it 
used  the  unfamiliar  old  word  "grange"  in  the  sense  of 
"farmhouse."  It  appealed  at  once  to  his  sense  of  fit- 
ness, and  a  study  of  the  history  of  the  word  showed  it 
so  desirable  that  it  was  immediately  accepted  as  the 
best  word  for  the  local  branches.  Somewhat  later  the 
motto  of  the  organization,  "Esto  Perpetua"  (Let  it  en- 
dure forever)  was  chosen  from  a  long  list  of  suggested 
phrases. 


John  Trimble,  one  of  the  Founders  and  third  Secretary  of  the 

National  Grange. 


William  M.  Ireland,  one  of  the  Founders  and  second  Secre- 
tary of  the  National  Grange. 


CHAPTER    II 

Organization    of  the  National    Grange — Extension  of 

the  Order — 1 867-1 869 — First  and  Second 

Sessions  of  the  National  Grange 

When  Mr.  Saunders  returned  from  St.  Louis  in  the 
fall  of  1867  with  his  report  that  everyone  he  had 
spoken  to  had  been  in  favor  of  the  project,  the  coun- 
cilors were  so  much  encouraged  that  they  began  to  con- 
sider a  real  organization.  Although  there  were  but 
four  of  them  in  the  city — Kelley,  Ireland,  Trimble  and 
Saunders — who  had  been  conferring  about  the  Order, 
they  considered  that  they  could  at  least  have  the  sat- 
isfaction of  telling  correspondents  that  the  Order  had 
been  established.  And,  as  Mr.  Kelley  said,  "being  a 
secret  society,  we  could  be  excused  for  keeping  our 
numbers  to  ourselves." 

The  meetings  are  said  to  have  been  "decidedly  in- 
formal"; in  fact,  for  some  time  seem  to  have  been  no 
more  than  the  former  gatherings  for  an  evening  smoke 
and  chat  over  prospects  and  plans.  From  time  to  time 
they  had  mentioned  their  project  to  several  others — 
among  them  J.  R.  Thompson,  a  clerk  in  the  Treasury 
Department,  said  to  be  one  of  the  first  to  whom  Mr. 
Kelley  mentioned  his  idea  of  the  Order.  (A.  B.  Grosh, 
"Mentor.")  Mr.  Thompson  seems,  however,  to  have 
had  little  active  participation  in  the  plans  until  the  first 
formal  session. 

The  first  meeting  at  which  formal  business  was 
transacted  was  held  at  the  office  of  William  Saunders 
in  the  Gardener's  Lodge,  November  15,  1867,  "for  the 
purpose  of  organizing  an  Order  of  Agriculture  in  the 
United  States."  According  to  their  previous  plan  Mr. 
Ireland  was  called  to  the  chair,  Mr.  Kelley  was  chosen 
secretary,  and  Mr.  Saunders  appointed  a  committee  to 

jo 


20  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

prepare  a  preamble  setting  forth  the  "objects  for  which 
the  Order  was  established."  A  formal  report  of  the 
work  done  since  August  5  was  made  by  Mr.  Kelley, 
and  official  sanction  was  given  to  the  name  of  "Patrons 
of  Husbandry"  for  the  national  organization  and  of 
"Granges"  for  the  branches.  The  meeting  was  then 
adjourned  until  December  4. 

In  the  interim  an  important  correspondence  was 
opened  by  Mr.  Kelley  with  F.  M.  McDowell,  an  or- 
chardist  of  Wayne,  N.  Y.,  to  whom  Mr.  Saunders 
had  talked  concerning  the  Order.  Mr.  McDowell  had 
impressed  Mr.  Saunders  as  being  a  man  of  high  char- 
acter, and  now  showed  such  a  real  interest  in  their 
plans  that  he  was  soon  admitted  by  correspondence  to 
all  their  councils. 

A  lively  correspondence  was  going  on  also  with  Mr. 
Moss,  Mr.  Bartlett,  Miss  Hall  and  others  regarding  the 
dues  of  membership.  Some  were  in  favor  of  very  high 
dues,  on  the  theory  that  the  National  Grange  must 
have  considerable  money  to  carry  out  its  plans ;  while 
others  were  busily  figuring  the  amount  of  even  small 
dues  from  the  immense  membership  they  expected. 
For  instance,  Mr.  Bartlett  wrote :  "Suppose  the  Order 
should  number  one  million  members  within  one  year 
from  its  organization,  the  10-cent  arrangement  would 
give  the  National  Grange  quarterly  $25;ooo."  Another 
question  which  came  up  in  the  discussion  of  dues  was 
the  unjust  difference  in  wages  for  men  and  women — 
a  question  of  inequality  which  has  often  appeared  in 
Grange  discussions  since.  It  was  because  of  this 
inequality  of  earning  power  that  the  fees  for  female 
members  were  set  at  half  those  for  male  members  of 
the  Order. 

December  4,  1867,  later  fixed  as  the  "birthday  of  the 
Order,"  the  second  formal  session  was  held,  and  the 
National  Grange  officially  organized.  It  had  been  Mr. 
Kelley's  plan  to  elect  Mr.  Ireland  as  Master,  but  Mr. 
Ireland  insisted  upon    withdrawing  in    favor    of    Mr. 


ORGANIZATION    OF    THE    NATIONAL    GRANGE  21 

Saunders  because  of  the  greater  prestige  of  his  connec- 
tion with  the  Agricultural  Department.  The  officers 
selected  were  as  follows : 

Master — William  Saunders. 
Overseer — Anson  Bartlett. 
Lecturer — J.  R.  Thompson. 
Steward — William  Muir. 
Assistant  Steward — A.  S.  Moss. 
Treasurer — W.  M.  Ireland. 
Secretary — O.  H.  Kelley. 

The  offices  of  Chaplain,  Gatekeeper  and  the  lady  of- 
fices were  left  vacant.  From  this  time  forward  the 
National  Grange  was  to  be  presented  as  a  reality  and 
1,000  copies  of  a  new  circular  were  printed  to  announce 
it  to  the  world. 

On  January  J,  1868,  a  meeting,  later  recognized  as 
the  first  session  of  the  National  Grange,  was  held,  at 
which  it  was  decided  to  organize  a  Subordinate  Grange 
for  the  purpose  of  trying  out  parts  of  the  Ritual  as  they 
were  prepared.  For  this  purpose  Mr.  Kelley  and  Mr. 
Ireland  had  interested  six  of  their  fellow-clerks  of  the 
Postoffice  Department,  who  with  their  wives,  were  to 
receive  all  the  advantages  of  the  Order  for  their  assist- 
ance with  the  demonstration  of  the  Ritual.  They  were 
organized  January  8,  1868,  as  a  "school  of  instruction." 

Mr.  McDowell  had  arrived  in  Washington  in  time  to 
attend  this  first  Subordinate  Grange  meeting.  The 
next  day  he  attended  the  meeting  of  the  National 
Grange,  and,  the  Constitution  coming  up  for  discus- 
sion, made  suggestions  which  resulted  in  an  entire  reor- 
ganization of  their  plans.  At  succeeding  meetings  the 
new  plan  of  seven  degrees  was  worked  out.  The 
Seventh  (Demeter)  was  accepted  as  being  the  control- 
ling degree  of  the  Order,  as  founded  on  "an  ancient 
association  once  so  flourishing  in  the  East,"  and  Mr. 
McDowell  was  elected  High  Priest. 

The  reorganized  plan  was  as  follows : 


22  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

Subordinate  Granges 

First  Degree — Laborer  (male),  Maid  (female). 
Second  Degree — Cultivator  (male),  Shepherdess   (female). 
Third  Degree — Harvester  (male),  Gleaner  (female). 
Fourth  Degree — Husbandman  (male),  Matron  (female). 

State  Grange 

Fifth  Degree — Pomona  (Hope).  Composed  of  officers  and  Past 
Masters  of  Subordinate  Granges,  who  are  entitled,  ex-officio, 
to  the  Fifth  Degree. 

National  Grange  (Council) 

Sixth  Degree — Charity.  Composed  of  Masters  and  Past  Masters 
of  State  Granges,  who  are  entitled,  ex-officio,  to  the  Sixth 
Degree,  and  meet  annually.  They  constitute  the  National 
Council. 

Senate 

Seventh  Degree — Ceres  (Faith).     Composed  of  the  members  of 
the  Council  who  have  served  one  year  therein,  who,  after 
the  expiration  of  their  first  year's  service  in  the  Council,  are 
entitled,  ex-officio,  to  the  Seventh  Degree,  to  be  conferred  at 
the  next  or  any  subsequent  session  of  the  National  Grange. 
All  who  have  thus  attained  to  this  degree  are  thereafter  mem- 
bers of  the  Senate,  and  entitled  to  seats  and  votes  therein. 
All  acts  and  resolutions  originate  in  the  Council   (Sixth  De- 
gree), subject  to  the  approval  or  rejection  of  the  Senate  (Seventh 
Degree). 

"The  Subordinate  Granges  in  the  District  of  Columbia  elect  on 
joint  ballot,  once  in  two  years,  a  delegate  to  represent  said 
Granges  in  the  National  Grange.  He  must  be  either  a  Master  or 
a  Past  Master,  and  on  receiving  the  degrees  ranks  the  same  as  a 
representative  of  a  State  Grange. 

"The  Senate  of  the  National  Grange,  having  the  power,  may 
confer  Degrees  of  the  Order  which  they  have  received  upon  such 
persons  as  they  may  deem  worthy;  and  may  delegate  that  power, 
except  as  to  the  Seventh  and  last  Degree,  to  one  of  their  number, 
to  be  used  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  the  Order  in  such  parts 
of  the  United  States  where  it  does  not  now  exist;  but  the  degree 
of  Ceres  or  Demeter  shall  not  be  conferred,  unless  in  open  Sen- 
ate, at  an  annual  meeting." 

Rev.  A.  B.  Grosh,  a  clerk  in  the  Department  of  Agri- 
culture, was  elected  Chaplain  at  this  time.  He  had 
been  approached  concerning  the  Order  some  time  be- 


ORGANIZATION    OF    THE    NATIONAL    GRANGE  23 

fore,  and  as  he  says,  "both  head  and  heart  responded  to 
the  call."  He  at  once  signified  his  desire  to  be  of 
service,  and  from  this  time  forth  was  prominent  in  the 
work  of  the  developing  organization. 

In  February,  1868,  Mr.  Kelley,  who  could  no  longer 
restrain  his  enthusiasm  over  the  new  Order,  resigned 
his  position  in  the  Postoffice  Department  so  that  he 
might  give  his  whole  time  to  its  establishment.  During 
February  and  March  he  devoted  his  time  to  perfecting 
the  Ritual,  with  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Thompson,  and 
he  tells  of  an  "exceedingly  interesting  meeting  of  Poto- 
mac Grange,  when  the  first  man  ever  regularly  initiated 
in  'due  form'  received  the  first  degree — Mr.  Boardman 
of  New  York."  A  full  set  of  officers  were  in  their 
places  and  they  worked  from  manuscript  copies  of  the 
Ritual.  The  first  real  Subordinate  Grange,  Harvest 
Grange  No.  2,  had  been  organized,  and  much  was 
continually  being  done  working  out  the  first  four  de- 
grees and  developing  the  floor  work.  A  number  of 
candidates  were  initiated,  both  men  and  women. 

Late  in  March,  when  the  first  copies  of  the  Manual 
were  off  the  press,  Mr.  Kelley  decided  to  start  out  on 
an  organizing  trip.  "I  shall  start  out,"  he  said,  "like 
an  itinerant  preacher  and  trust  to  find  friends."  His 
associates  were  inclined  to  think  such  an  attempt  rather 
premature,  but  Mr.  Kelley  was  not  to  be  persuaded 
from  his  purpose. 

A  special  session  of  the  National  Grange  was  held 
on  March  28,  1868,  to  prepare  for  him  a  letter  of  credit 
giving  him  power  to  establish  Subordinate  Granges,  to 
issue  Dispensations,  and  to  confer  the  degrees  neces- 
sary, "for  the  purpose  of  enabling  him  to  visit  the  differ- 
ent states  to  organize  the  Order,"  It  was  also  decided 
that  Mr.  Kelley,  as  Secretary,  should  receive  a  salary 
of  $2,000  per  annum  and  traveling  expenses — the 
money,  however,  to  be  collected  by  him  from  receipts 
from  Subordinate  Granges  he  should  organize! 

On  the  third  of  April,  1868,  Mr.  Kelley,  with   some 


24  PATRONS    OF    HUSBANDRY 

funds  furnished  by  the  Subordinate  Grange,  bought  a 
ticket  for  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  with  about  $2.50  in 
his  pocket,  set  out  upon  his  journey,  determined  to 
pay  his  way  as  he  went. 

Mr.  Kelley  was  not,  he  tells  us,  particularly  fitted  for 
the  work  of  organization — with  no  oratorical  powers 
and  being  in  general  such  a  person  as  he  would  later 
have  rejected  as  a  deputy.  He  had,  however,  a  great 
enthusiasm,  a  sincere  belief  in  the  Order  and  an  untir- 
ing energy  that,  after  a  little  experience,  stood  him  in 
good  stead.  He  reached  Harrisburg  April  3,  spent  a 
few  days  and  then  went  on  to  Penn  Yan,  N.  Y.  At 
both  Harrisburg  and  Penn  Yan  he  had  had  corre- 
spondents who  joined  their  efforts  with  his  in  the  hope 
of  securing  an  organization,  but  both  attempts  were 
unsuccessful.  He  left  a  dispensation  with  his  corre- 
spondent at  Harrisburg  and  received  the  fee  of  $15, 
which  helped  him  with  his  expenses.  After  a  visit  at 
Wayne,  N.  Y.,  with  Mr.  McDowell,  from  whom  he 
received  not  only  encouraging  words  but  also  financial 
help,  he  went  on  to  Fredonia,  N.  Y. 

There  he  was  met  by  A.  S.  Moss,  who  had  been  one 
of  the  most  active  correspondents  since  the  beginning 
Df  the  movement,  and  April  16  they  organized  Fredonia 
Grange — the  first  regularly  organized  Subordinate 
Grange  where  every  member  paid  his  fee.  Mr.  Kelley 
says :  "We  may  give  Brother  Moss  credit  for  being  the 
father  of  the  first  genuine  Grange  which  lived,  breathed 
and  had  a  being."  Fredonia  Grange  No.  1  has  lived 
to  this  day,  and  is  in  a  flourishing  and  thriving  con- 
dition. 

While  at  Fredonia  Mr.  Kelley  decided  to  look  into 
the  agricultural  situation  in  Ohio  and  visit  Mr.  Bartlett 
at  Spencer.  Although  he  did  not  succeed  in  organiz- 
ing any  Granges  he  found  the  sentiment  of  the  farmers 
well  disposed  toward  the  Order.  Several  recent  issues 
had  shown  the  farmers  that  organization  for  protection 
was  becoming  necessary — among  them  their  difficulties 


ORGANIZATION    OF    THE    NATIONAL    GRANGE  25 

with  patent  right  swindlers.  The  loss  from  this  one 
cause  was  said  to  be  $500,000  per  annum.  As  Mr. 
Kelley  wrote  at  the  time  :  "Every  kind  of  monopoly  is 
now  at  work  grinding  the  producer,  and  I  find  the  peo- 
ple encourage  our  work,  hoping  to  find  relief."  He 
instructed  Mr.  Bartlett  in  the  method  of  organizing 
granges,  and  asked  him  to  undertake  the  work  in  Ohio. 

Mr.  Kelley  left  another  dispensation  at  Columbus, 
O.,  as  he  proceeded  northward,  and  at  Chicago  in- 
structed a  few  people  who  had  been  called  together 
by  the  editor  of  the  Prairie  Farmer,  but  he  did 
not  effect  an  organization.  Then  he  proceeded  to 
Madison,  Wis.,  where  he  also  failed.  His  expenses 
had  been  paid  up  to  this  time  by  contributions  and  the 
fees  for  dispensations  he  had  left  along  the  way,  but 
after  this  last  failure  he  was  compelled  to  borrow 
$15  from  the  Master  of  the  local  lodge  of  Masons  in 
order  to  pay  his  way  home  to  Itasca,  Minn.,  where 
he  arrived  May  1,  1868. 

On  his  trip  from  Washington  he  had  secured  but 
one  live  grange,  had  left  several  dispensations,  and 
though  receiving  several  contributions  for  expenses, 
had  arrived  in  Minnesota  $15  in  debt — even  Mr. 
Kelley's  spirits  were  dampened  by  the  shower.  Soon 
after  his  arrival,  however,  a  letter  reached  him  from  A. 
Failor  of  Newton,  la.,  stating  that  a  Grange  had  been 
organized  there  April  17.  The  draft  for  their  dispensa- 
tion liquidated  Mr.  Kelley's  debt  to  his  brother  Mason 
and  left  him  once  more  with  a  clean  slate.  This  fact 
so  raised  his  drooping  spirits  that  he  at  once  set  about 
new  plans  for  the  future  of  the  Order. 

Meanwhile  at  Washington  the  other  members  of  the 
National  Grange  were  also  having  some  experience 
with  the  discouraging  side  of  the  founding  of  a  Na- 
tional Order.  Mr.  Kelley  had  taken  with  him  for  his 
expenses  all  the  funds  in  the  treasury  of  Harvest 
Grange,  and  no  initiates  presented  themselves  to  re- 
nlenish  the  treasury.     The  members  of  the  National 


26  PATRONS   OF   HUSBANDRY 

Grange  had  already  advanced  more  than  seemed  wise 
on  so  doubtful  a  project  and  had  given  considerable 
time  to  developing  the  plans  for  several  months.  The 
printers  were  presenting  bills  for  printing  circulars  and 
refused  to  deliver  the  Manuals,  for  which  Mr.  Kelley 
was  writing  urgently  from  the  West,  until  they  should 
be  paid  for  them.  The  rent  for  the  hall  in  which  they 
held  their  meetings  was  long  overdue,  and  the  creditors 
were  dunning  them  every  few  days.  They  had  hoped 
that  Mr.  Kelley's  trip  would  bring  an  increase  in  mem- 
bership that  would  relieve  the  treasury,  but  instead  he 
was  running  behind  and  his  "homespun"reports  on  his 
financial  affairs  were  unsatisfactory  to  his  more  busi- 
nesslike associates.  It  is  little  wonder  that  a  period  of 
depression  and  inertia  ensued  at  headquarters,  of  which 
Mr.  Kelley  complains  in  his  letters  of  this  darkest  hour 
in  the  history  of  the  Order.  As  Mr.  Kelley  says :  "If 
great  enterprises  must  start  from  small  beginnings, 
then  our  Order  is  all  right,  for  its  foundation  was  laid 
on  'solid  nothing' — the  rock  of  poverty — and  there  is  no 
harder  material." 

About  the  first  of  August,  1868,  however,  the  gloom 
began  to  lighten.  Miss  Carrie  A.  Hall,  Mr.  Kelley's 
niece,  who  had  been  an  enthusiastic  worker  for  the 
Order  from  the  first,  joined  him  in  Minnesota  and  be- 
gan acting  as  his  assistant,  thus  giving  him  the  help 
of  her  encouragement  as  well  as  relieving  him  from 
the  great  burden  of  letter-writing.  About  this  time  the 
friendly  aid  of  five  agricultural  papers  was  announced, 
viz  :  The  Prairie  Farmer,  Chicago ;  Farmer's  Chronicle, 
Columbus,  O. ;  Ohio  Farmer,  Cleveland ;  Rural  World, 
St.  Louis;  Farmer's  Union,  Minneapolis;  and  a  general 
friendliness  was  shown  by  many  of  the  county  papers. 

The  National  Grange,  after  several  months'  inertia, 
held  another  special  meeting  October  5,  and  prepared 
the  following  statement  as  a  help  to  Mr.  Kelley  in  his 
work  of  organization : 


ORGANIZATION    OF    THE    NATIONAL    GRANGE  2/ 

"Patrons  of  Husbandry, 
"National  Grange,  Washington,  D.  C. 

"At  a  special  meeting  of  the  National  Grange,  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandry, held  on  Saturday,  October  3d,  1868,  the  following  resolu- 
tions were  offered  and  unanimously  adopted: 

"Resolved,  That  our  hearts  are  cheered  by  the  hearty  reception 
given  to  our  beloved  Order  by  the  farmers  and  friends  of  agri- 
culture in  Minnesota,  and  by  their  ready  appreciation  of  the  ad- 
vantages which  our  institution  must  yield  to  the  tillers  of  the  soil 
and  the  cultivation  of  its  fruits,  in  co-operating  with  each  other 
all  over  our  land  in  securing  to  them  the  highest  rewards  of  their 
labors,  in  elevating  their  position  in  society,  and  improving  the 
morals,  minds  and  social  position  of  themselves  and  their  families. 

"Resolved,  That  our  thanks  are  due  the  various  editors  in  the 
West,  who,  with  wise  foresight,  have  pointed  out  the  merits  of 
our  new  order,  and  commended  it  to  the  attention  of  the  agricul- 
tural public. 

"Resolved,  That  we  renewedly  commend  our  beloved  brother, 
O.  H.  Kelley,  Secretary  of  the  National  Grange,  to  the  kindness 
and  confidence  of  our  friends  everywhere,  as  one  of  the  earliest 
advocates  of  our  Order,  the  most  laborious  worker  in  organizing 
it,  and  framing  and  harmonizing  its  Ritual,  and  now  indefatigable 
in  extending  its  borders  and  strengthening  its  influence  in  the 
western  states,  proving  himself  a  workman  in  this  new  and  im- 
portant field  that  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed — the  right  man  in 
the  right  place.  May  his  success  be  commensurate  with  his  diligence 
and  perseverance,  and  the  widespreading  beneficence  of  the  Order 
be  his  abundant  joy  and  reward  ! 

"Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions,  signed  by  the  Mas- 
ter and  Secretary,  pro  tempore,  be  forwarded  to  Brother  Kelley, 
to  be  by  him  communicated  to  others  interested  therein,  as  he  may 
have  opportunity. 

"William  Saunders, 
"Attest:  "Master  of  National  Grange,  P.  of  H. 

"William  M.  Ireland, 

"Acting  Secretary." 

While  these  resolutions  were  probably  not  of  any 
great  benefit  to  Mr.  Kelley  in  organizing-  Granges,  they 
were  at  least  encouraging  as  showing  some  signs  of 
life  in  the  National  Grange,  and  helped  him  in  keeping 
up  the  fiction  of  a  powerful  central  organization  at  the 
nation's  Capitol 


28  PATRONS    OF    HUSBANDRY 

After  Mr.  Kelley's  return  to  Itasca  he  had  granted 
two  dispensations  in  Minnesota,  but  in  neither  case 
was  there  a  permanent  organization.  On  September  2, 
North  Star  Grange,  the  first  permanent  Grange  in 
Minnesota,  was  organized  at  St.  Paul  and  at  once  took 
an  active  part  in  the  development  and  spread  of  the 
Order.  Indeed,  they  took  so  much  interest  that  Mr. 
Kelley  had  much  ado  to  keep  them  from  finding  out 
the  real  state  of  affairs  at  Washington,  and  the  fact 
that  he  was  frequently  at  a  loss  to  answer  their  letters 
because  of  the  lack  of  postage  stamps !  Yet  somehow 
the  letters  were  answered,  and  the  new  impetus  given 
by  this  energetic  Subordinate  Grange  and  Mr.  Kelley's 
renewed  zeal  soon  brought  results.  Two  more  active 
Granges  were  organized  in  Minnesota  before  the  end 
of  the  year,  three  others  in  January,  1869,  and  three 
in  February. 

On  February  23,  1869,  the  Minnesota  State  Grange, 
the  first  State  Grange,  was  organized,  with  representa- 
tives from  11  Subordinate  Granges.  Deputies  were 
appointed  for  the  extension  of  the  work  throughout 
the  state  and  the  spread  of  the  Order  in  the  West  was 
really  begun. 

Soon  after  the  organization  of  the  State  Grange  Mr. 
Kelley  went  to  Washington,  visiting  Fredonia  Grange, 
which  now  had  grown  to  more  than  100  members.  He 
arrived  in  Washington  in  time  to  attend  the  Second 
Annual  Session  of  the  National  Grange,  April  13,  1869. 
There  were  present  at  this  meeting  Brothers  Saunders, 
Grosh,  Ireland,  Trimble,  Thompson  and  Kelley.  Mr. 
Kelley  gave  his  report  on  organization,  and  was  com- 
plimented upon  his  diligence  and  asked  to  go  on  with 
the  same  work.  Miss  Carrie  A.  Hall  was  officially  rec- 
ognized as  his  assistant  and  voted  a  salary  of  $600  per 
annum.  Some  time  before  this  she  had  been  appointed 
Ceres  of  the  National  Grange  by  Mr.  McDowell,  High 
Priest  of  Demeter,  so  that  she  was  the  first  woman  to 
hold  office  in  the  National  Grange.    Steps  were  taken 


John   Richardson   Thompson,   one   of   the    Founders   and   first 
Lecturer  of  the  National  Grange. 


Aaron  B.   Grosh,  one  of  the  Founders  and  first  Chaplain  of 
the  National  Grange. 


ORGANIZATION    OF    THE    NATIONAL    GRANGE  20, 

toward  providing  suitable  regalia  and  jewels  for  the 
Granges — though  the  sentiment  of  the  body  seemed  to 
be  that  they  needed  members  rather  than  decorations 
at  this  time.  After  passing  a  number  of  regulations, 
especially  dealing  with  the  relations  of  State  Granges 
to  the  National  and  Subordinate  bodies,  the  session 
was  adjourned. 

Mr.  Kelley  had  brought  with  him  sufficient  Grange 
funds  to  settle  the  more  pressing  of  the  outstanding 
bills, and  so  to  put  the  National  Grange  on  a  better  foot- 
ing at  Washington,  though  after  they  were  paid,  as  he 
said,  "it  required  an  effort  on  my  part  to  leave  the  city 
in  good  order,  without  any  aid  from  my  associates." 


CHAPTER    III 

Growth  of  the  Order,   1869-1S72 — Third  and  Fourth 
essions  of  the  National  Grange 

The  energetic,  newly  organized  State  Grange  of 
Minnesota  was  not  long  in  developing  new  ideas  con- 
cerning the  Order.  The  people  of  the  West,  chafing 
under  their  wrongs  against  the  railroads  and  retail 
dealers,  were  beginning  to  see  that  the  new  Order  was 
the  standard  under  which  to  lead  their  scattered,  help- 
less forces  to  victory,  and  felt  that  there  was  nothing 
that  they  could  not  do  through  its  agency.  As  one  of 
the  correspondents  wrote  at  the  time,  the  Patrons  of 
Husbandry  was  to  "make  a  blaze  that  will  shine  out  on 
the  horizon  which  will  equal  a  prairie  on  fire,"  and  the 
figure  was  not  inappropriate  to  the  later  development 
of  the  Order. 

A  circular  printed  in  St.  Paul  in  September,  1868, 
had  given  among  the  advantages  of  the  Order:  "Sys- 
tematic arrangements  for  procuring  and  disseminating, 
in  the  most  expeditious  manner,  information  relative  to 
crops,  demand  and  supply,  prices,  markets  and  trans- 
portation throughout  the  country,  and  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  depots  for  the  sale  of  special  and  general 
products  in  the  cities ;  also  for  the  purchase  and  ex- 
change of  stock,  seeds  and  desired  help  at  home  or  from 
abroad,  and  situations  for  persons  seeking  employ- 
ment; also  for  ascertaining  and  testing  the  merits  of 
newly  invented  farm  implements,  and  those  not  in 
general  use,  and  for  detecting  and  exposing  those  that 
are  unworthy;  and  for  protecting,  by  all  available 
means,  the  farming  interests  from  fraud  and  deception 
of  every  kind." 

Mr.  Kelley  had,  in  his  organizing  work,  given  them 
a  plan  to  prevent  the  farmers  being  swindled.    "I  tell 

30 


GROWTH   OF  THE  ORDER — 1 869- 1 872  3 1 

them,"  he  said,  "that  in  every  Grange  there  is  to  be 
kept  a  Blue  Book  and  a  Red  Book.  In  the  former  all 
swindling  concerns  they  come  in  contact  with  are  to 
be  recorded,  by  vote  of  the  Grange,  and  information 
transmitted  to  other  Granges,  by  which  we  become  a 
secret  detective  and  protective  organization.  In  the 
Red  Book  we  record  reliable  establishments,  and  any- 
one receiving  a  letter  of  introduction  by  vote  of  a 
Grange,  stating  he  is  'duly  recorded  in  the  Red  Book/ 
is  sure  of  a  cordial  reception.  I  also  advocate  a  Busi- 
ness Agent  in  each  Grange,  to  be  elected  by  ballot,  who 
shall  keep  a  record  of  real  estate,  produce,  stock,  etc., 
that  members  have  for  sale,  and  also  a  record  of  such 
articles  as  outsiders  wish  to  purchase,  thereby  saving 
our  members  valuable  time  now  consumed  in  hunting 
up  customers  for  their  produce." 

This  plan  seemed  entirely  too  slow  to  the  enthusias- 
tic Patrons  in  the  West,  and  on  March  i,  1869,  Mr. 
Kelley  wrote  to  Mr.  McDowell :  "At  the  State  Grange 
it  was  suggested  that  the  different  Subordinate 
Granges  lease  flouring  mills  in  their  respective  local- 
ities, and  flour  their  own  wheat,  keeping  the  bran  and 
shorts  for  feed,  and  not  send  any  raw  material  into  the 
eastern  market,  but,  instead,  appoint  a  business  agent 
at  St.  Paul,  who  should  receive  the  flour  and  ship  it  to 
the  agent  in  New  York  City,  who  shall  sell  it  on  com- 
mission." Mr.  McDowell,  however,  was  too  wise  and 
cautious  to  sanction  such  a  movement,  and  replied: 
"This  is  a  matter  fraught  with  much  good  or  evil — not 
only  for  individual  Patrons,  but  to  the  Order  itself,  and 
for  the  present  I  should  do  nothing  but  discourage  it, 
or  at  least  take  it  on  thought."  And  later,  concerning 
some  further  plans  from  Minnesota:  "If  all  who  be- 
come Patrons  were  born  again  when  they  took  the 
oath  I  should  have  some  hope ;  but  not  at  present. 
There  is,  I  fear,  too  much  human  nature  among  us  to 
die  so  quietly." 

The  matter  of  the  State  Agent,  brought  up  in  the 


2,2  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

second  annual  session  was  tabled  by  general  consent 
as  premature.  Notwithstanding  this  discouragement, 
the  State  Grange  persisted  in  its  course,  and  on  April 
26  Mr.  Kelley  wrote  from  St.  Paul  to  Mr.  McDowell : 
"Some  of  them  say  if  they  can't  do  as  they  please,  and 
thus  protect  themselves  against  being  swindled  by  the 
middlemen,  they  will  withdraw  from  the  organization 
in  a  body,  and  run  it  on  their  own  hook.  To  quiet 
them,  I  told  them  to  go  ahead,  that  the  National 
Grange  considers  it  a  local  affair  of  their  own,  and  not 
sanctioned  by  the  Order  at  large.  If  any  trouble  arises, 
they  must  father  it  themselves."  The  appointment  of 
a  State  Agent  for  buying  supplies  and  farm  implements 
was  made  and  thus  the  first  step  was  taken  in  what 
became  one  of  the  most  important  as  well  as  the  most 
dangerous  of  the  activities  of  the  Order. 

The  first  Grange  paper  in  the  country  was  the  Minne- 
sota Monthly,  issued  at  St.  Paul,  January  1,  1869,  by 
D.  A.  Robertson,  who  had  been  chiefly  responsible  for 
the  establishment  of  North  Star  Grange,  and  was  Lec- 
turer of  the  State  Grange  at  this  time.  This  paper  at 
once  became  an  important  aid  in  disseminating  Grange 
information  throughout  the  West.  The  Secretary  of 
the  Minnesota  State  Grange,  Captain  William  Paist, 
had  opened  an  office  in  St.  Paul,  and  nearly  every  mem- 
ber of  the  Minnesota  Grange  was  interesting  himself  in 
spreading  information  concerning  the  aims  and  prin- 
ciples of  the  Order.  They  attracted  so  much  attention 
that  two  or  three  northwestern  church  papers  began  to 
attack  the  Order  openly — much  to  Mr.  Kelley's  delight 
because  of  the  free  advertising  thus  secured. 

Meanwhile  at  the  National  Secretary's  office  Mr. 
Kelley  and  Miss  Hall  were  busy  sending  out  circulars 
and  letters.  He  says :  "Hardly  a  day  but  we  send  off 
:irculars  to  some  new  quarter."  Over  1,600  letters  were 
written  to  editors  in  the  western  states  during  the 
year  1869.  Although  the  returns  from  these  letters 
were  extremely  slow,  especially  in    a    financial    way, 


GROWTH   OF  THE  ORDER — 1869-1872  33 

they  were  helping  to  prepare  the  ground  of  the  West 
for  the  later  harvest  of  Granges. 

Several  deputies  for  organizing  Granges  had  been 
secured.  Mr.  Kelley  made  several  trips,  usually  re- 
turning to  Itasca  only  when  his  supply  of  money  ran 
out,  and  succeeded  in  organizing  a  number  of  success- 
ful Granges.  In  one  month,  November,  1869,  10  new 
Granges  were  added,  one  of  them  being  the  first  work- 
ing Grange  in  Illinois.  This  was  organized  at  Nunda, 
111.,  November  27,  1869.  Waukon  Grange  of  Wau- 
<kon,  la.,  was  organized  in  December,  with  Dudley 
W.  Adams,  later  Master  of  the  National  Grange, 
as  Secretary.  It  is  claimed  for  Waukon  Grange 
that  it  has  held  more  meetings  than  any  other  in 
the  country.  Just  at  the  close  of  the  year  Mr.  Kelley 
organized  the  first  Grange  in  Indiana,  at  Honey  Creek, 
and  a  second  soon  after  at  Terre  Haute.  Thus  the  year 
1869  closed  with  38  new  Granges  and  with  several  good 
Deputies  enlisted  in  the  work  of  organizing  the  farmers 
of  the  West.  Besides  this  the  Order  was  gradually 
developing  in  its  plans  and  purposes  as  well  as  in  num- 
bers, and  though  still  in  financial  straits,  had  secured 
a  good  foothold  in  the  West. 

A  meeting  of  the  National  Grange  had  been  called 
at  Washington  for  December  8,  1869,  and  Brothers 
-Saunders,  Thompson,  Grosh,  Ireland  and  Trimble 
had  assembled.  Mr.  Kelley  was  so  much  engaged  with 
organization  work  that  he  found  it  impossible  to  be 
present  at  that  time,  and  as  the  Secretary's  report  was 
practically  the  only  purpose  of  the  meeting,  they  ad- 
journed until  January,  1870,  without  transacting  any 
business. 

On  January  25,  1870,  the  third  (then  called  the  second) 
annual  session  of  the  National  Grange  convened,  with 
Brothers  Saunders,  Kelley,  Grosh,  Trimble,  McDowell, 
Thompson  and  Ireland  all  present.  These  men 
were  later  recognized  as  the  "seven  founders"  of  the 
Order.    Secretary  Kelley  made  his  "second  annual  re- 


34  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

port."  Concerning  the  growth  of  the  Order,  he  re- 
ported that  dispensations  had  been  issued  as  follows : 
"Minnesota,  40;  Illinois,  three;  Iowa,  three;  Pennsyl- 
vania, one ;  New  York,  one ;  Ohio,  one.  Of  this  num- 
ber 39  were  issued  the  past  year,  against  10  the  pre- 
vious year.  Added  to  this  is  one  State  Grange — that  of 
Minnesota." 

In  regard  to  future  prospects,  he  continued :  "From 
all  whom  I  have  met  during  the  past  11  weeks  the  most 
encouraging  words  of  cheer  have  been  spoken.  I  have 
commissioned  several  to  act  as  deputies,  in  hope  of 
speedily  extending  the  Order."  He  urged  each  mem- 
ber of  the  National  Grange  to  give  more  attention  to 
the  work.  As  to  the  finances  of  the  Order,  he  said: 
"While  endeavoring  to  make  my  office  self-supporting 
I  have  been  under  the  necessity  of  incurring  personal 
debts  to  the  amount  of  $300,  mostly  for  printing,  hav- 
ing confidence  in  the  future  prosperity  of  the  Order." 
He  also  recommended  the  establishment  of  a  news- 
paper as  the  "organ  of  the  Order." 

The  Honorary  and  Associate  members  of  the  Na- 
tional Grange  approved  at  the  last  session  were:  Col. 
D.  A.  Robertson,  St.  Paul,  Minn. ;  Hon.  Eugene 
Underwood,  Louisville,  Ky. ;  and  H.  D.  Emery, 
Chicago,  111.  Now,  on  the  motion  of  the  Secre- 
tary, Geo.  D.  Hinckley,  Fredonia,  N.  Y.,  Harvey 
D.  Scott,  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  and  William  Paist,  St. 
Paul,  Minn.,  were  made  honorary  members.  After 
accepting  officially  the  designs  for  jewels  prepared  by 
Mr.  Kelley,  and  congratulating  Mr.  Kelley  on  his  suc- 
cess in  organization,  the  session  adjourned. 

No  Master's  address  was  delivered  at  this  meeting, 
but  as  it  seemed  injudicious  to  publish  a  report  of  the 
proceedings  for  the  general  public,  and  yet  important 
to  advertise  the  Order,  it  was  decided  to  have  Mr. 
Saunders  write  a  short  "speech"  for  publication.  This 
was  prepared  about  a  week  after  the  close  of  the  ses- 
sion and  printed  in  the  Washington  Republican.     Mr. 


GROWTH  OF  THE  ORDER — 1 869- 1 872  35 

Saunders  set  forth  in  a  very  forceful  manner  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Order,  and  urged  the  establishment  of 
libraries,  supplied  with  books  on  agricultural  and  hor- 
ticultural subjects.  He  then  called  attention  to  the 
necessity  for  social  intercourse  among  farmers  and 
their  families,  and  stated  that  the  admission  of  women 
to  full  membership  was  proving  of  incalculable  value. 
"The  time  was  auspicious,"  he  continues,  "for  the  in- 
troduction of  this  Order.  The  change  of  events  which 
allowed  the  minds  of  the  people  to  subside  from  the 
bustle  and  all-absorbing  interest  of  the  war  to  the  calm 
and  prosperity  of  peace  called  for  new  organizations, 
based  upon  the  industrial  arts  rather  than  upon  politi- 
cal theories — a  basis  that  appeals  to  the  patriotism  and 
sensibilities  of  every  cultivated  and  high-minded  indi- 
vidual." The  benefits  that  flow  from  such  an  associa- 
tion were  enumerated,  and  he  closed  with  an  expres- 
sion of  hope  for  the  usefulness  of  the  Order  and  a  belief 
in  its  growing  prosperity. 

This  "speech"  of  Mr.  Saunders  was  the  beginning 
of  what  has  since  been  the  practice  of  the  Master  of 
the  National  Grange  of  delivering  at  the  opening  of 
each  session  of  the  National  Grange  the  "Master's  An- 
nual Address." 

After  leaving  Washington  Mr.  Kelley  visited  Mr. 
Bartlett  in  Ohio,  and,  with  his  help,  organized  the  first 
Grange  in  Ohio  at  East  Cleveland,  March  2,  1870. 
Mr.  Kelley  had  hoped  to  organize  several  granges  on 
this  trip,  but  a  series  of  disappointments  and  delays  on 
account  of  bad  weather  rendered  his  work  unsuccess- 
ful. He  arrived  at  Itasca  March  19,  much  discouraged 
over  the  prospects.  During  his  absence,  however,  a 
number  of  letters  had  accumulated  which  immediately 
raised  his  spirits  with  glowing  reports  of  social  pleas- 
ures of  Granges  in  Minnesota,  Indiana  and  Iowa  and 
the  growing  interest  in  the  Order  among  the  farmers  of 
the  West.  Many  of  the  Subordinate  Granges  were 
taking  up  the  work  of  advertising  the  Order  by  cir- 


36  PATRONS   OF   HUSBANDRY 

culars  and  newspaper  articles,  and  inquiries  were  com- 
ing in  from  all  parts  of  the  country. 

It  was  evident  that  the  western  Granges  were  find- 
ing the  educational  and  social  program,  as  given  by  the 
founders,  rather  tame.  With  the  western  farmer,  they 
said,  it  was  not  so  much  a  matter  of  raising  crops  as 
it  was  to  market  them.  Why,  they  asked,  should  they 
study  books  on  scientific  agriculture  and  documents 
from  the  Department  of  Agriculture  when  corn  was 
practically  worthless  in  Indiana  and  Iowa  because  of 
middlemen's  profits  and  exorbitant  prices  of  transpor- 
tation? As  Mr.  Kelley  wrote  to  Mr.  Saunders:  "The 
idea  of  discussions  upon  how  to  raise  crops  is  stale. 
They  all  want  some  plan  of  work  to  oppose  the  infernal 
monopolies.  This  seems  to  be  uppermost  in  the  mind 
of  every  member  I  have  conversed  with.  The  'how  to 
do  it'  is  the  rub.  I  think  we  can,  by  and  by,  introduce 
some  system  of  insurance,  so  as  to  insure  at  cost." 

About  this  time  W.  W.  Corbett,  editor  of  the  Prairie 
Farmer,  wrote  to  Mr.  Kelley  concerning  a  Producers' 
Convention  to  be  held  at  Bloomington,  111.,  brought 
about  by  the  feeling  of  antagonism  to  the  rail- 
roads. He  hoped  to  make  the  permanent  organization 
growing  out  of  this  meeting  a  part  of  the  Patrons 
of  Husbandry.  He  said  of  the  Order:  "It  seems  to 
me  that  we,  as  an  Order,  have  a  work  to  perform  in  the 
war  that  is  to  be  waged  in  this  country  at  no  distant 
day,  by  the  people  against  the  monstrous  monopolies 
that  are  overshadowing  us.  Railroads,  insurance 
companies,  warehouse  and  telegraph  companies,  are 
crushing  the  life  out  of  the  producing  classes." 

The  farmers  themselves  were  aroused  over  the  sit- 
uation. One  of  them  said  in  a  speech  in  a  farmers' 
meeting:  "Like  rabbits,  we  are  the  prey  of  hawks  by 
day,  and  owls  and  foxes  by  night.  Is  there  no  remedy 
for  this?  Is  there  anything  in  the  occupation  of  agri- 
culture that  makes  man  a  legitimate  prey  for  all  the 
human  vampires    that    infest    the    earth?  .  .  .     The 


GROWTH   OF  THE  ORDER — 1869-1872  2)7 

railroad  companies  fix  the  price  at  which  they  will 
carry  the  grain  to  Chicago ;  elevators  fix  the  price  of 
handling  it;  and  buyers  finally  agree  how  much  they 
will  give  for  it ;  and  each  one  of  these  middlemen  takes 
such  a  slice  as  he  pleases ;  and  the  farmer  timidly  sub- 
mits." Mr.  Kelley  agreed  to  add  the  fight  against 
monopolies  to  the  Grange  program,  and  when  the  tem- 
porary State  Grange  was  organized  Henry  C.  Wheeler, 
advocate  of  the  Farmers'  League,  the  permanent  or- 
ganization of  the  Producers'  Convention,  was  elected 
Secretary.  As  Mr.  Kelley  says :  "This  was  boldly 
striking  out  in  a  direction  that  would  find  us  an  able 
adversary.  I  had  some  misgivings  as  to  the  result  of 
such  a  war."  Yet,  as  subsequent  events  showed,  it  was 
just  such  an  issue  and  such  an  adversary  that  the 
Grange  needed,  as  the  times  were  ripe  for  it  and  the 
public  mind  ready  for  aggressive  leadership,  which  the 
Grange  proceeded  to  furnish. 

On  July  11,  1870,  Mr.  Kelley  organized  a  temporary 
State  Grange  at  Chicago,  although  it  was  necessarily 
made  up  largely  of  deputies.  The  first  Grange  in 
Tennessee  was  organized  by  letter  at  Stockton,  June 
10,  and  the  first  Grange  in  California,  also  by  letter,  at 
Pilot  Hill,  August  17,  1870. 

Some  time  before,  Mr.  Kelley  had  begun,  through 
Mr.  Saunders,  a  lively  correspondence  with  Thos.  B. 
Bryan,  a  wealthy  man  of  Chicago  and  "a  thorough 
gentleman  in  every  respect."  When  Mr.  Kelley  was  in 
Chicago  he  expressed  his  sympathy  with  the  move- 
ment, was  initiated  and  became  Treasurer  of  the  tem- 
porary State  Grange.  He  made  many  suggestions  for 
the  good  of  the  Order,  among  them  that  the  sending 
out  of  circulars  should  be  kept  up  as  the  best  means  of 
getting  its  aims  and  principles  before  the  people.  For 
this  purpose  he  placed  from  time  to  time  considerable 
sums  at  Mr.  Kelley's  disposal — which  resulted  in  the 
issuance  of  what  were  known  as  the  "Bryan  Fund 
Publications." 


38  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

Through  the  invitation  of  N.  J.  Colman,  editor  of  the 
Rural  World  of  St.  Louis,  Mr.  Kelley  made  a  trip  to 
Missouri,  organizing  the  first  Grange  in  the  state  at 
Glencoe,  August  25,  1870.  A  second  Grange  was  or- 
ganized at  St.  Louis,  and  a  temporary  State  Grange 
was  effected.  This  brought  into  the  Order  Thomas  R. 
Allen  and  William  Muir,  who  later  were  instrumental 
in  the  spread  of  the  Order  in  that  state.  On  his  way 
back  to  Minnesota  Mr.  Kelley  met  Gen.  William  Duane 
Wilson,  formerly  a  member  of  Harvest  Grange  at 
Washington  and  then  editor  of  the  Iowa  Homestead 
and  Farm  Journal,  who  had  been  appointed  a  general 
Deputy  in  Iowa,  and  together  they  organized  two 
Granges  in  the  neighborhood  of  Des  Moines. 

Thus  at  the  close  of  the  year  1870  there  were  71 
Granges  in  existence.  During  the  year  19  new  Granges 
had  been  organized  in  Minnesota,  making  47  in  all ;  and 
nine  in  Iowa,  making  11  in  all.  Indiana  had  one  new 
Grange,  a  total  of  three ;  Illinois  the  same ;  and  New 
York  one  new  Grange,  with  a  total  of  two.  Missouri 
had  been  added,  with  two  Granges,  and  Ohio,  Tennes- 
see and  California  with  one  each.  Temporary  State 
Granges  had  been  organized  in  Illinois  and  Missouri, 
giving  a  total  of  three  State  Granges.  For  a  year's 
earnest  work  the  spread  of  the  Order  would  not  seem 
particularly  encouraging,  but  a  wide  correspondence 
with  interested  persons  all  over  the  country  gave 
promise  of  better  results  in  the  future. 

It  had  been  Mr.  Kelley's  purpose  from  the  beginning, 
as  soon  as  the  prospects  of  the  Order  would  warrant 
it,  to  move  the  Secretary's  office  to  Washington,  D.  C., 
because  information  emanating  from  the  Capitol  city 
had  more  prestige  and  would  give  the  Order  a  better 
standing.  The  time  would  scarcely  have  seemed  ripe 
to  anyone  else,,  for  the  funds  from  the  Granges  were 
still  insufficient  to  pay  the  necessary  bills  for  printing 
and  postage,  and  Mr.  Kelley  was  forced  to  borrow 
money  in  order  to  move  his  family.    As  usual,  he  was 


GROWTH  OF  THE  ORDER — 1869-I872  39 

building  upon  the  future  and  seemed  to  have  scarcely 
realized  the  wild  venture  he  was  making.  The  family- 
reached  Washington  January  5,  1871,  leased  an  unpre- 
tentious house  on  Sixth  Street,  and  the  Secretary  and 
his  assistant  began  sending  out  letters  and  circulars 
from  the  new  home. 

Circulars  were  sent  to  every  Grange  and  to  everyone 
who  had  written  concerning  the  Order,  stating  that 
the  Secretary's  office  had  been  moved  to  Washington. 
They  also  announced  that  the  National  Grange  had 
adopted  a  new  plan  for  organizing  by  letter,  and  that 
necessary  information  would  be  sent  to  anyone  desir- 
ing to  take  an  active  part  in  the  work.  This  arrange- 
ment had  been  accepted  by  Mr.  Kelley  because  it 
seemed  a  necessity,  as  he  had  always  believed  that  per- 
sonal work  and  "talk"  were  necessary  to  the  organiza- 
tion of  good  Granges.  But  now  with  inquiries  coming 
in  from  all  parts  of  the  country  it  was  an  impossibility 
to  have  Deputies  enough  for  the  work. 

The  National  Grange  met  for  its  fourth  annual  ses- 
sion at  the  office  of  National  Master  Saunders,  January 
4,  1871,  with  Brothers  Saunders,  Trimble,  Grosh, 
Thompson  and  Kelley  present.  The  Secretary  made 
an  informal  report,  but  suggested  that  most  of  the 
business  be  postponed  until  he  was  located  in  the  city 
and  had  opened  his  office.  He  read  a  number  of  com- 
munications from  Granges.  The  Minnesota  Granges 
suggested  that  County  Granges  be  organized  in  coun- 
ties with  more  than  10  Subordinate  Granges,  chiefly 
"to  create  a  local  corporation  to  buy  machinery  or 
goods  and  shipping  produce."  In  consideration  of  the 
aid  extended  by  Hon.  Thomas  B.  Bryan  of  Chicago, 
he  was  invited  to  become  a  member  of  the  Executive 
Committee  of  the  National  Grange.  Then  the  meeting 
adjourned  until  the  Secretary  should  have  his  complete 
report  and  his  plans  for  the  future  to  lay  before  them. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting,  held  at  the  Secretary's 
office  January  25,  little  business  was  transacted,  the 


40  PATRONS   OF   HUSBANDRY 

other  members  of  the  National  Grange  failing  to  agree 
with  Mr.  Kelley  on  his  plan  for  organizing  Granges  by 
letter.  They  also  objected  to  the  "homespun"  manner 
of  his  reports,  and  Mr.  Ireland  resigned  his  position  as 
Treasurer. 

After  this  the  National  Grange  relapsed  into  inac- 
tivity for  several  months.  Mr.  Kelley  and  his  assistant 
kept  on  according  to  their  own  plans  and  strove  to 
maintain  the  confidence  of  distant  Grangers  in  a  strong 
national  body  back  of  them.  In  his  history  Mr.  Kelley 
frankly  admits  his  harmless  fiction,  but  states  that  it 
was  necessary  for  the  good  of  the  Order :  "Everyone 
who  wrote  us  expected  a  cheering  answer ;  every  appli- 
cation for  a  new  Grange  was  supposed  to  be  a  com- 
panion to  20  others ;  and  there  could  be  nothing  more 
discouraging  than  to  write  a  Deputy  he  had  sent  in 
the  only  application  received  for  the  past  week."  There 
were  even  criticisms  from  the  distant  Granges  concern- 
ing what  was  done  with  the  "immense  amount  of 
money"  which  must  be  pouring  into  the  National 
Treasury — when  the  whole  support  of  the  national 
branch  depended  from  day  to  day  upon  the  receipts. 

The  first  co-operative  purchasing  was  done  by 
Master  Hinckley  of  Fredonia  Grange,  New  York,  Jan- 
uary 7,  1871,  and  on  January  18,  the  first  circular  deal- 
ing with  co-operative  selling  was  prepared  by  National 
Master  Saunders.  This  explained  a  plan  for  an  adver- 
tising circular,  for  which  firms  recommended  by  the 
Granges  were  to  be  asked  for  advertisements  of  their 
wares.  It  was  a  good,  conservative  plan,  but  so  far  as 
is  known  was  not  tried  by  any  of  the  Granges. 

On  January  12,  1871,  the  State  Grange  of  Iowa  was 
organized  at  Des  Moines,  with  Dudley  W.  Adams  as 
Master  and  General  William  Duane  Wilson  as  Secre- 
tary. The  first  Grange  in  Wisconsin  was  organized 
January  5  at  Plainville,  and  the  first  in  Pennsylvania 
at  Montgomery  Station,  February  22.  New  Granges 
were  being  added   in   the   West — particularly   under 


GROWTH   OF  THE  ORDER — 1869-1872  41 

General  Wilson  in  Iowa,  where  the  Order  was  doing 
much  to  develop  an  independent  spirit  among  the 
farmers,  "to  bring  out  men  who  had  never  before  taken 
an  active  part  in  any  societies,  and  place  them  in  the 
first  rank."  Thus  leaders  were  being  trained  for  the 
farmer's  battles  of  a  few  years  later. 

About  this  time  Rufus  Hatch  was  publishing  in  the 
New  York  Independent  some  wide-awake  articles  upon 
the  railroads  watering  their  stock,  and  Mr.  Kelley  sent 
a  few  copies  to  the  western  Granges.  They  were  re- 
ceived with  such  great  interest  that  he  later  secured  a 
considerable  number  of  these  articles  and  distributed 
them  widely  in  the  West,  where  the  railroad  question 
was  rapidly  becoming  acute.  He  found  these  circulars 
"excellent  'fuel'  for  Deputies  to  circulate,"  for  they 
showed  clearly  the  necessity  of  organization  among 
the  farmers.  ;  'Co-operation'  and  'down  w^th  monopo- 
lies'," Mr.  Kelley  says,  "were  proving  popular  watch- 
words." 

On  May  25  the  first  Grange  organized  in  the  South 
was  reported  from  Charleston,  S.  C,  and  a  short 
time  after  (June  3)  another  in  Rienzi,  Miss.,  where 
it  very  soon  became  a  powerful  organization  among 
the  southern  planters.  Col.  R.  D.  Powell  of  Colum- 
bus, Miss.,  became  interested  and  proved  an  in- 
defatigable worker  and  one  of  the  most  earnest  friends 
of  the  Order  in  its  spread  through  the  South.  The 
people  of  the  South,  though  at  first  inclined  to  be  sus- 
picious of  anything  that  came  from  Washington,  were 
beginning  to  wake  up  to  the  fact  that  the  Grange  could 
be  made  of  service  to  them  in  restoring  peace  and 
harmony  between  the  sections  which  had  been  so  re- 
cently at  war.  Col.  Powell  wrote  to  Mr.  Kelley:  "I 
am  fully  satisfied  in  my  mind  that  this  movement  is 
the  only  thing  to  save  the  South,  and  bring  it  together 
in  friendship  and  love." 

Kentucky  was  placed  on  the  list  of  Grange  states 
August  II,  and  New  Jersey  December  26,  187 1.     On 


42  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

July  4  the  first  Grange  in  Vermont,  also  the  first  in 
New  England,  was  organized  and  seemed  to  give 
promise  of  a  large  growth  in  that  section.  But,  al- 
though both  J.  R.  Thompson  and  later  Mr.  Kelley 
visited  the  state  they  failed  to  organize  any  more 
Granges.  Mr.  Kelley  also  visited  Boston,  and,  with 
the  assistance  of  George  Noyes  of  the  Massachusetts 
Ploughman,  attempted  an  organization,  but  was  un- 
successful. Many  of  the  Granges  throughout  the  coun- 
try held  Fourth  of  July  picnics  and  other  demonstra- 
tions, and  the  newspapers,  great  and  small,  were  talk- 
ing of  the  Order — some  of  them  favoring  it  and  others 
criticizing  and  opposing  it,  but  the  publicity  they  gave 
did  much  to  spread  its  influence  and  increase  its  mem- 
bership. 

During  October,  1871,  an  effort  was  made  to  dis- 
seminate among  the  Subordinate  Granges  information 
relative  to  crops,  machines,  etc.  Grange  agencies  were 
established  in  some  of  the  leading  cities,  and  a 
movement  for  opening  local  Grange  stores  was 
spreading  over  the  country.  This  was  the  first  great 
co-operative  movement  in  this  country,  but  in  most 
cases  it  proved  disastrous  and  much  money  was  lost, 
which  in  some  localities  has  done  much  to  discredit 
the  Grange  to  this  day. 

During  the  year  T.  A.  Thompson,  Master  of  the 
Minnesota  State  Grange,  had  much  improved  the 
secret  work  of  the  Order,  and  was  asked  to  exemplify 
the  work  before  the  Subordinate  Granges  of  his  state. 

The  year  closed  with  130  new  Granges,  against  38 
the  previous  year,  and  with  a  much  more  efficient  force 
of  Deputies  at  work.  Seven  new  states  had  been  added 
to  the  Grange  list — Wisconsin,  Pennsylvania,  South 
«  Carolina,  Mississippi,  Vermont,  Kentucky,  and  New 
Jersey,  making  a  total  of  16.  Two  State  Granges  had 
been  organized,  Iowa  and  Wisconsin,  and  many  ener- 
getic'men  in  the  West  were  working  for  the  cause  of 
the  Patrons  of  Husbandry. 


Francis   Marion    McDowell,    one    of    the    Founders    and   third 
Treasurer  of  the  National  Grange. 


Caroline  Arabelk  Hall,  "equal  to  a  Founder"  and  first  Ceres 
of  the   National  Grange. 


CHAPTER  IV 

The   Permanent    Organization    Effected,    1872-1873 — 
Fifth  and  Sixth  Sessions  of  the  National  Grange 

The  year  1872  opened  with  glowing  prospects  for 
the  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  On  January  3  the  National 
Grange  held  its  fifth  annual  session  at  Washington, 
D.  C,  and  for  the  first  time  the  master  of  a  State 
Grange  was  present — Master  Dudley  W.  Adams  of  the 
Iowa  State  Grange.  Although  for  several  years  an- 
nouncements of  the  annual  meeting  had  been  sent  out 
to  all  the  Granges,  the  long,  expensive  journey  from 
the  West  had  prevented  the  attendance  of  delegates. 
The  lack~of  attendance  had,  however,  not  been  much 
regretted  by  the  national  officers,  since  the  weakness 
of  the  organization  would  have  been  painfully  ap- 
parent. There  were  present  at  the  meetings,  also, 
Master  Wm.  Saunders,  J.  R.  Thompson,  D.  S.  Curtiss, 
,0.  H.  Kelley  and  A.  B.  Grosh. 

Secretary  Kelley  made  a  written  report  in  which  he 
stated  that  everywhere  Grange  enthusiasm  was  spread- 
ing. "In  examining  the  work  that  has  been  done  by 
subordinate  Granges,"  he  reported,  "we  find  that  many 
of  them  have  reaped  large  benefits  in  their  dealings,  in 
many  cases  the  members  receiving  discounts  in  a 
single  season,  amounting  to  ten  or  even  twenty  times 
the  cost  of  membership,  while  equally  as  large  benefits 
are  attainable  in  the  future.  The  pecuniary  benefit 
is  a  consideration  in  joining  the  order,  and  should  be 
one  inducement  to  promptness  in  the  payment  of  dues. 

"The  educational  and  social  features  of  the  Order 
offer  inducement  to  some  to  join,  but  the  majority 
desire  pecuniary  benefits — advantages  in  purchase  of 
machinery  and  sales  of  produce.     To  bring  all  the 

43 


44  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

Granges  into  direct  communication,  and  to  devise  a 
system  of  co-operation,  devolves  upon  the  National 
Grange." 

The  legislation  of  the  session  was  chiefly  to  put  the 
relations  of  Subordinate  Granges  to  the  State  and  Na- 
tional Granges  on  a  better  basis  for  greater  regularity 
and  punctuality  in  making  reports — the  greatest  dif- 
ficulty in  all  new  Orders.  The  Executive  Committee 
was  asked  to  prepare  a  simple  form  of  by-laws  for  Sub- 
ordinate Granges  and  many  perplexing  questions  of 
local  management  were  discussed. 

The  treasurer,  W.  M.  Ireland,  having  resigned  at 
the  last  meeting,  J.  R.  Thompson  was  elected  to  fill 
the  unexpired  term.  This  made  a  vacancy  in  the 
office  of  Lecturer,  which  was  filled  by  the  election  of 
D.  W.  Adams,  who,  in  spite  of  his  disillusionment  con- 
cerning the  size  of  the  National  body,  had  shown  great 
interest  and  enthusiasm  in  the  plans  for  the  good  of 
the  Order.  The  roll  of  National  officers  was  now  as 
follows : 

Master — William  Saunders,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Overseer — Anson  Bartlett,  North  Madison,  Ohio. 
Lecturer — D.  W.  Adams,  Waukon,  Iowa. 
Steward — William  Muir,  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 
Assistant  Steward — A.  S.  Moss,  Fredonia,  New  York. 
Chaplain — A.  B.  Grosh,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Treasurer — J.  R.  Thompson,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Secretary — O.  H.  Kelley,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Gatekeeper — E.  P.  Farris,  Henry,  Illinois. 
Ceres — Miss  Carrie  A.  Hall,  Washington,  D.  C. 

The  other  lady  offices  were  not  filled. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  session  Col.  D.  Wyatt 
Aiken  of  South  Carolina  arrived  in  Washington  to 
attend  an  agricultural  convention  called  by  Commis- 
sioner Watts  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture.  He 
had  been  previously  appointed  a  Deputy  in  the  Order, 
so  he  immediately  visited  the  office  of  Secretary  Kelley 


PERMANENT   ORGANIZATION    EFFECTED,    1872-1873     45 

and  discussed  with  him  the  plans  for  organization. 
When  he  reached  the  convention  he  found  the  chair- 
man and  delegates  smugly  discussing  vague  general 
problems  of  education  without  any  reference  to  the 
needs  of  farmers  and  the  country  life.  He  stood  it  as 
long  as  he  could,  then  jumped  to  his  feet  and  exclaimed: 

"Mr.  Chairman — This  is  ostensibly  an  Agricultural  Convention, 
but  I  have  not  heard  the  word  agriculture  spoken  since  it  con- 
vened. We  seem  to  be  gathered  here  in  the  interest  of  education. 
The  wants  of  the  farmer  appear  to  be  ignored  entirely.  This  will 
not  be  the  case  always,  however,  for  there  is  now  springing  up 
amongst  the  farmers  of  our  country  an  organization  that  will 
teach  them  their  rights,  and  knowing  them  they  will  dare  maintain 
them.  I  mean  the  organization  known  as  the  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandry." 

This  was  too  much  for  the  convention  of  pseudo- 
farmers.  The  chairman  tried  to  call  him  to  order, 
and,  failing  this,  the  entire  speech  was  left  out  of  the 
published  proceedings.  It  was  almost  the  first  in- 
stance of  the  farmer  speaking  for  himself  and  was  a 
prophecy  of  the  future  work  of  the  Order. 

When  Colonel  Aiken  returned  to  South  Carolina  from 
his  trip  to  Washington  he  lost  no  time  in  getting  his 
state  into  line  with  the  new  movement.  Ten  Granges 
were  organized  in  the  month  of  April,  1872,  and  on 
October  9  the  State  Grange  was  organized  by  Mr. 
Kelley  at  Columbia  with  Thomas  Taylor  as  Master 
and  Colonel  Aiken  as  Secretary.  By  the  end  of  the 
year  there  were  101  Granges  in  South  Carolina,  placing 
it  next  after  Iowa  in  numbers.  Mr.  Kelley  had  also 
organized  the  Mississippi  State  Grange  on  March  15 
with  A.  J.  Vaughan  as  Master,  and  55  Granges  were 
organized  in  this  state  during  the  year.  Kentucky 
organized  one  new  Grange  and  Tennessee  four.  The 
first  Granges  were  organized  in  other  southern  states 
as  follows:    Virginia,  February  16;  Louisiana,  March 


46  PATRONS   OF   HUSBANDRY 

15;    Alabama,    July  15;    Arkansas,    August    3;    and 
Georgia,  October  2. 

In  the  country  as  a  whole  the  month  of  January, 
1872,  brought  in  54  new  Granges  and  by  the  close  of 
the  year  1,105  had  been  organized.  Truly,  the  prairie 
fire  was  beginning  to  spread !  More  than  half  of  these 
(652)  were  in  Iowa,  under  the  general  direction  of 
D.  W.  Adams,  and  46  in  Minnesota.  The  Illinois  State 
Grange  was  reorganized  permanently  at  Dixon,  March 
5,  1872,  with  Alonzo  Golder  as  Master.  The  Order 
immediately  became  very  popular  in  the  state,  and  65 
new  Granges  were  in  existence  before  the  close  of  the 
year.  Indiana  State  Grange  was  organized  February 
22,  1872,  at  Terre  Haute,  with  John  Weir  as  Master, 
and  38  new  Granges  were  established  in  that  state  in 
the  year. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  State  Grange  in  Wis- 
consin in  1871  difficulties  had  arisen  between  the  of- 
ficers of  the  State  Grange  and  Deputy  Burnham  which 
for  a  time  threatened  the  life  of  the  Order  in  that  state. 
Letters,  both  for  and  against  the  Deputy,  were  con- 
tinually coming  to  the  Secretary's  office,  and  at  last 
the  complaints  became  so  numerous  that  action  seemed 
necessary.  Mr.  Kelley  appointed  J.  C.  Abbott  of  Iowa 
to  investigate  the  matter,  with  the  result  that  Deputy 
Burnham  handed  in  his  resignation.  Then  Mr.  Abbott 
was  asked  to  take  up  the  work  in  Wisconsin,  and, 
though  the  Order  was  for  a  time  in  bad  repute,  suc- 
ceeded in  increasing  the  number  of  Granges  in  that 
state  very  greatly  before  the  end  of  the  year. 

The  first  Grange  was  organized  in  Michigan,  Jan- 
uary 10,  1872,  under  E.  M.  Jones,  and,  with  Mr. 
Abbott's  assistance,  several  others  were  soon  added. 
The  first  Nebraska  Grange  was  organized  by  letter  in 
January,  and  on  August  2  General  Wilson  of  Iowa  or- 
ganized the  Nebraska  State  Grange,  with  William  B. 
Porter  as  Master.  He  also  organized  the  Kansas  State 
Grange,  with  F.  H.  Dumbauld  as  Master. 


PERMANENT   ORGANIZATION    EFFECTED,    1872-1873     47 

Very  little  headway  was  made  in  the  eastern  states, 
except  in  Vermont,  where  Deputy  Eben  Thompson 
had  organized  13  Granges  by  July  4,  when  Mr.  Kelley 
established  the  State  Grange — the  first  in  New  Eng- 
land— at  St.  Johnsbury,  with  E.  P.  Colton  as  Master. 
Deputy  Thompson  also  organized  the  first  Grange  in 
Canada  August  16,  1872,  and  two  more  were  added 
before  the  close  of  the  year. 

The  following  quotation  summarizes  well  the  or- 
ganization accomplished  during  the  year:  (Buck,  "The 
Granger  Movement.") 

"State  Granges  were  organized  in  six  states— Indiana,  Ver- 
mont, South  Carolina,  Nebraska,  Mississippi  and  Kansas — and 
reorganized  in  Illinois  and  Wisconsin,  thus  making,  in  all  10 
state  granges  in  operation.  In  nine  states — Nebraska,  Oregon, 
Michigan,  Virginia,  Louisiana,  Kansas,  Alabama,  Arkansas  and 
Georgia— the  Order  found  lodgment  during  1872,  so  that,  at  the 
close  of  the  year  25  states  had  active  Subordinate  Granges  within 
their  limits.  Although  the  strength  of  the  Order  was,  at  this 
time,  concentrated  mainly  in  Iowa  and  Minnesota  in  the  North- 
west and  South  Carolina  and  Mississippi  in  the  South,  still  its 
spread  was  so  general  and  its  centers  so  far  apart,  that  it  must 
be  looked  upon,  even  thus  early,  as  distinctly  national  in  char- 
acter. In  the  North  Central  group,  every  state  had  now  been  en- 
tered, and  the  territory  of  Dakota  alone  remained  untouched  by 
the  Order;  while  of  the  southern  states,  all  had  Granges  except 
Delaware,  Maryland,  West  Virginia,  Florida  and  Texas.  In  the 
eastern  or  North  Atlantic  States  little  progress  had  been  made, 
except  in  Vermont;  while  on  the  Pacific  coast  the  Order  had 
been  introduced  into  both  California  and  Oregon,  though  as  yet 
these  states  had  but  one  Grange  apiece." 

For  the  first  time  the  funds  of  the  National  Grange 
were  comfortably  plentiful.  As  Mr.  Kelley  says,  he 
was  now  able  to  "adopt  the  cash  system  in  all  dealings, 
and  so  carry  out  one  of  the  great  principles  of  our 
Order."  The  money  advanced  by  Mr.  Bryan  and 
others  was  returned,  all  claims  against  the  Order  were 
settled,  and  it  was  at  last  upon  a  prosperous  business 
basis.  Early  in  October  Miss  Hall  published  a  Grange 
song  book,    "Grange   Melodies,"    with  words  set  to 


48  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

music  for  general  Grange  occasions,  as  well  as  special 
songs  for  the  various  degrees.  This  book,  with  many- 
changes  and  additions,  is  still  the  official  song  book, 
and  is  used  by  many  thousands  of  Patrons  throughout 
the  country. 

Although  the  emphasis  in  all  the  Subordinate 
Granges  was  on  the  pecuniary  side  of  the  organization, 
much  good  was  resulting  from  its  social  and  educa- 
tional principles.  For  the  first  time  farmers  every- 
where were  assembling  with  a  common  purpose,  and 
the  social  pleasures  of  their  meetings  did  much  to 
lighten  the  dull  routine  and  isolation  of  farm  life.  On 
special  occasions  they  held  celebrations  and  picnics, 
with  processions  miles  in  length  and  gatherings  of 
thousands — ten  thousand  was  reported  from  one  place. 
The  discussions  in  the  Grange  meetings  were  bringing 
to  light  the  fact  that  the  average  farmer  was  quite 
ignorant  of  the  scientific  principles  underlying  his 
operations,  and  there  was  an  insistent  demand  for 
information  in  this  line. 

The  farmer  and  his  family  were  beginning  to  realize 
their  importance  and  power  as  never  before  in  the 
history  of  the  country.  Indeed,  before  the  end  of  the 
year  even  the  politicians  were  beginning  to  realize  the 
strength  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry  as  a  political 
force,  and  the  dealers  in  farm  supplies  its  importance 
as  a  selling  agency.  Everywhere  there  was  frantic 
wire-pulling  to  secure  initiation  into  the  now  power- 
ful Order. 

On  January  8-1 1,  1873,  the  first  regular  delegate 
session  of  the  National  Grange  was  held  in  George- 
town, D.  C.,  in  the  parlors  of  Mr.  Kelley's  home,  just 
five  years  one  month  and  four  days  after  the  recog- 
nized "birthday  of  the  Order,"  December  4,  1867. 
Twenty-three  men  and  four  women,  representing  11 
states,  came  together  for  consultation  for  the  good  of 
the  Order.    The  day  of  the  fulfillment  of  the  founders' 


PERMANENT   ORGANIZATION    EFFECTED,    I872-1873     49 

dreams  was  at  hand,  and  the  organization  passed  into 
the  control  of  real  farmers. 

The  Committee  on  Credentials  at  the  opening  of  the 
session  reported  the  following  delegates  present  and 
their  standing  in  the  Order  is  given  as  indicated  by 
Mr.  Kelley  in  his  "History" : 

William  Saunders,  Washington,  D.C.,  Master  National  Grange. 
J.  R.  Thompson,  Washington,  D.C.,  Treasurer  National  Grange. 
O.  H.  Kelley,  Washington,  D.  C.,  Secretary  National  Grange. 
Rev.  A.  B.  Grosh,  Washington,  D.C.,  Chaplain  National  Grange. 
J.  C.  Abbott,  Clarkesville,  Iowa,  General  Deputy. 
Dudley  W.  Adams,  Waukon,  Iowa,  Master  Iowa  State  Grange. 
D.  Wyatt  Aiken,  Cokesbury,  South  Carolina,  General  Deputy. 
T.  R.  Allen,  Allenton,  Missouri,  Deputy  and  State  Master. 
John  Cochrane,  Waupun,  Wisconsin,  Master  State  Grange. 
D.  S.  Curtiss,  Washington,  D.  C,  General  Deputy. 
O.  Dinwiddie,  Orchard  Grove,  Indiana,  General  Deputy. 
A.  Golder,  Rock  Falls,  Illinois,  Master  State  Grange. 

F.  M.  McDowell,  Corning,  New  York,  General  Deputy. 

Win.  B.  Porter,  Plattsmouth,  Nebraska,  Master  State  Grange. 

D.  A.  Robertson,  Saint  Paul,  Minnesota,  General  Deputy. 

E.  R.  Shankland,  Dubuque,  Iowa,  Associate. 

Joseph  Seymour,  Syracuse,  New  York,  General  Deputy. 
Thomas    Taylor,    Columbia,    South    Carolina,    Master     State 
Grange. 
T.  A.  Thompson,  Plainview,  Minnesota,  Master  State  Grange. 

G.  W.  Thompson,  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  Deputy  and 
State  Master. 

John  Trimble,  Jr.,  Washington,  D.  C,  Associate. 

A.  J.  Vaughan,  Early  Grove,  Mississippi,  Master  State  Grange. 

W.  Duane  Wilson,  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  General  Deputy. 

Although  they  were  not  mentioned  in  the  com- 
mittee's report,  four  women  were  also  present  at  this 
session :  Mrs.  J.  C.  Abbott,  Mrs.  D.  W.  Adams,  Miss 
Carrie  A.  Hall,  and  Mrs.  O.  H.  Kelley. 

At  the  opening  of  the  session  Worthy  Master  Wil- 
liam Saunders  delivered  the  first  "Master's  Annual 
Address"  ever  actually  delivered  to  the  National 
Grange.  In  this  he  made  a  brief  review  of  the  history 
of  the  Order  and  set  forth  as  its  chief  duties  for  the 
future:   1st,    to  collect   information;  2d,    to  dissemi- 


50  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

nate  it,  as  well  as  to  judge  the  value  of  measures  af- 
fecting the  Order  as  a  whole.  To  facilitate  prompt 
action  in  times  of  emergency  he  suggested  that  an 
executive  board  be  appointed  to  represent  the  Na- 
tional Grange. 

The  Secretary's  report  contained  an  itemized  state- 
ment of  expenses  and  showed  all  bills  paid  except  a 
balance  of  $3,321.74  due  him  on  salary.  In  his  "His- 
tory" the  Secretary  says:  "With  this  meeting  the 
work  of  my  assistant  (Miss  Carrie  A.  Hall)  and  my- 
self virtually  closed.  We  passed  the  temporary  organi- 
zation over  to  the  incorporated  body,  and  in  so  doing 
had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  it  was  free  of  debt,  ex- 
cept what  was  owing  to  ourselves,  and  cash  enough  on 
hand  to  defray  the  general  expenses  of  the  session." 
One  thousand  one  hundred  and  five  dispensations  had 
been  issued  during  the  year. 

The  salary  of  the  Secretary  up  to  this  time  had  been 
$2,000  per  year,  and  of  his  assistant  $600.  Now,  how- 
ever, the  Secretary's  salary  was  fixed  at  $3,500  per  year, 
which  was  to  include  the  payment  for  all  assistance  and 
all  work  in  and  connected  with  the  office.  The  Treas- 
urer's salary  was  fixed  at  $1,000,  and  he  was  required  to 
give  a  bond  of  $10,000.  No  other  reference  to  salaries 
is  made  in  the  Journal. 

To  give  the  organization  a  legal  recognition  a 
Charter  was  obtained  in  the  names  of  all  the  old  of- 
ficers and  members  present — William  Saunders,  O.  H. 
Kelley,  John  R.  Thompson,  A.  B.  Grosh,  John  Trimble, 
Jr.,  F.  M.  McDowell,  and  Dudley  W.  Adams,  and  of 
D.  A.  Robertson  of  Minnesota  and  D.  Wyatt  of  South 
Carolina,  new  members.  It  stated  that  the  object  of 
the  "National  Grange  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry" 
should  be  "to  act  as  the  governing  body  of  the  Order 
known  as  the  'Patrons  of  Husbandry,'  which  Order  is 
an  organization  among  farmers  and  those  engaged  in 
kindred  pursuits  in  the  United  States,  to  secure  to 
them  the  advantages  of  co-operation  in  all  things  af- 


PERMANENT   ORGANIZATION    EFFECTED,    1872-1873      5 1 

fecting  their  interests,  and  of  mutual  improvement." 

Up  to  this  session  the  orders,  rules  and  laws  formu- 
lated by  the  "founders"  had  undergone  many  changes, 
and  even  yet  were  wholly  inadequate  to  the  needs  of 
the  rapidly  growing  Order.  After  much  discussion 
and  working  over  in  committees  the  following  Consti- 
tution and  By-Laws  were  accepted  and  have  been  the 
basis  for  all  legislation  for  the  good  of  the  Order  ever 
since.    The  preamble  was  written  by  Wm.  Saunders : 

PREAMBLE 

Human  happiness  is  the  acme  of  earthly  ambition.  Individual 
happiness  depends  upon  general  prosperity. 

The  prosperity  of  a  nation  is  in  proportion  to  the  value  of  its 
productions. 

The  soil  is  the  source  from  which  we  derive  all  that  constitutes 
wealth;  without  it  we  would  have  no  agriculture,  no  manufac- 
tures, no  commerce.  Of  all  the  material  gifts  of  the  Creator,  the 
various  productions  of  the  vegetable  world  are  of  the  first  im- 
portance. The  art  of  agriculture  is  the  parent  and  precursor  of 
all  arts,  and  its  products  the  foundation  of  all  wealth. 

The  productions  of  the  earth  are  subject  to  the  influence  of 
natural  laws,  invariable  and  indisputable;  the  amount  produced 
will  consequently  be  in  proportion  to  the  intelligence  of  the  pro- 
ducer, and  success  will  depend  upon  his  knowledge  of  the  action 
of  these  laws,  and  the  proper  application  of  their  principles. 

Hence,  knowledge  is  the  foundation  of  happiness. 

The  ultimate  object  of  this  organization  is  for  mutual  instruc- 
tion and  protection,  to  lighten  labor  by  diffusing  a  knowledge  of 
its  aims  and  purposes,  expand  the  mind  by  tracing  the  beautiful 
laws  the  Great  Creator  has  established  in  the  Universe,  and  to 
enlarge  our  views  of  Creative  wisdom  and  power. 

To  those  who  read  aright,  history  proves  that  in  all  ages  so- 
ciety is  fragmentary,  and  successful  results  of  general  welfare  can 
be  secured  only  by  general  effort.  Unity  of  action  cannot  be 
acquired  without  discipline,  and  discipline  cannot  be  enforced 
without  significant  organization ;  hence  we  have  a  ceremony  of 
initiation  which  binds  us  in  mutual  fraternity  as  with  a  band  of 
iron ;  but  although  its  influence  is  so  powerful,  its  application 
is  as  gentle  as  that  of  the  silken  thread  that  binds  a  wreath  of 
flowers. 


52  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

ORGANIZATION 

Subordinate  Granges 

First  Degree — Laborer  (man),  Maid  (woman). 
Second  Degree — Cultivator   (man),  Shepherdess   (woman). 
Third  Degree — Harvester  (man),  Gleaner  (woman). 
Fourth  Degree — Husbandman  (man),  Matron  (woman). 

State  Grange 

Fifth  Degree — Pomona  (Hope).  Composed  of  Masters  of  Sub- 
ordinate Granges  and  their  wives  who  are  Matrons.  Past 
Masters  and  their  wives  who  are  Matrons  shall  be  Honorary 
members  and  eligible  to  office,  but  not  entitled  to  vote. 

National  Grange 

Sixth  Degree — Flora  (Charity).  Composed  of  Masters  of  State 
Granges  and  their  wives  who  have  taken  the  degree  of 
Pomona.  Past  Masters  of  State  Granges,  and  their  wives 
who  have  taken  said  degree,  shall  be  Honorary  members  and 
eligible  to  office,  but  not  entitled  to  vote. 

Seventh  Degree.  Ceres  (Faith).  Members  of  the  National 
Grange  who  have  served  one  year  therein  may  become  mem- 
bers of  this  degree  upon  application  and  election.  It  shall 
have  charge  of  the  secret  work  of  the  Order,  and  shall  be  a 
court  of  impeachment  of  all  officers  of  the  National  Grange. 
Members  of  the  degree  are  Honorary  members  of  the  National 

Grange,  and  are  eligible  to  office  therein,  but  not  entitled  to  vote. 

CONSTITUTION 
Article  I. — Officers 

Section  1.  The  officers  of  a  Grange,  either  National,  State,  or 
Subordinate,  consist  of  and  rank  as  follows:  Master,  Overseer, 
Lecturer,  Steward,  Assistant  Steward,  Chaplain,  Treasurer,  Secre- 
tary, Gatekeeper,  Ceres,  Pomona,  Flora,  and  Lady  Assistant 
Steward.  It  is  their  duty  to  see  that  the  laws  of  the  Order  are 
carried  out. 

Sec.  2.  How  Chosen. — In  the  Subordinate  Granges  they  shall 
be  chosen  annually;  in  the  State  Granges  once  in  two  years;  and 
in  the  National  Grange  once  in  three  years.  All  elections  to  be 
by  ballot. 

Vacancies  by  death  or  resignation  to  be  filled  at  a  special 
election  at  the  next  regular  meeting  thereof — officers  so  chosen 
to  serve  until  the  annual  meeting. 

Sec.  3.  The  Master  of  the  National  Grange  may  appoint  mem- 


PERMANENT   ORGANIZATION    EFFECTED,    1872-1873      53 

bers  of  the  Order  as  deputies  to  organize  Granges  where  no  State 
Grange  exists. 

Sec.  4.  There  shall  be  an  Executive  Committee  of  the  Na- 
tional Grange,  consisting  of  three  members,  whose  terms  of  office 
shall  be  three  years,  one  of  whom  shall  be  elected  each  year. 

Sec.  5.  The  officers  of  the  respective  Granges  shall  be  ad- 
dressed as  "WORTHY." 

Article  II. — Meetings 

Section  1.  Subordinate  Granges  shall  meet  once  each  month, 
and  may  hold  intermediate  meetings  as  may  be  deemed  necessary 
for  the  good  of  the  Order.  All  business  meetings  are  confined  to 
the  Fourth  Degree. 

Sec.  2.  State  Granges  shall  meet  annually  at  such  time  and 
place  as  the  Grange  shall  from  year  to  year  determine. 

Sec.  3.  The  National  Grange  shall  meet  annually  on  the  first 
Wednesday  in  February,  at  such  place  as  the  Grange  may  from 
year  to  year  determine.  Should  the  National  Grange  adjourn 
without  selecting  the  place  of  meeting,  the  Executive  Committee 
shall  appoint  the  place  and  notify  the  Secretary  of  the  National 
Grange  and  the  Masters  of  State  Granges,  at  least  thirty  days 
before  the  day  appointed. 

Article  III. — Laws 

The  National  Grange,  at  its  annual  session,  shall  frame,  amend, 
or  repeal  such  laws  as  the  good  of  the  Order  may  require.  All 
laws  of  State  and  Subordinate  Granges  must  conform  to  this 
Constitution  and  the  laws  adopted  by  the  National  Grange. 

Article  IV. — Ritual 

The  Ritual  adopted  by  the  National  Grange  shall  be  used  in  all 
Subordinate  Granges,  and  any  desired  alteration  in  the  same  must 
be  submitted  to,  and  receive  the  sanction  of,  the  National  Grange. 

Article  V. — Membership 

Any  person  interested  in  agricultural  pursuits,  of  the  age  of 
sixteen  years,  female,  and  eighteen  years,  male,  duly  proposed, 
elected,  and  complying  with  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the 
Order,  is  entitled  to  membership  and  the  benefit  of  the  degrees 
taken.  Every  application  must  be  accompanied  by  a  fee  of  mem- 
bership. If  rejected,  the  money  will  be  refunded.  Applications 
must  be  certified  by  members,  and  balloted  for  at  a  subsequent 
meeting.  It  shall  require  three  negative  votes  to  reject  an  applicant. 


54  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

Article  VI. — Fees  for  Membership 

The  minimum  fee  for  membership  in  a  Subordinate  Grange 
shall  be,  for  men  five  dollars,  and  for  women  two  dollars,  for  the 
four  degrees,  except  charter  members,  who  shall  pay — men,  three 
dollars,  and  women  fifty  cents. 

Article  VII. — Dues 

Section  1.  The  minimum  of  regular  monthly  dues  shall  be  ten 
cents  from  each  member,  and  each  Grange  may  otherwise  regu- 
late its  own  dues. 

Sec.  2.  The  Secretary  of  each  Subordinate  Grange  shall  report 
quarterly  to  the  Secretary  of  the  State  Grange  the  names  of  all 
persons  initiated  or  passed  to  higher  degrees. 

Sec.  3.  The  Treasurer  of  each  Subordinate  Grange  shall  re- 
port quarterly,  and  pay  to  the  Treasurer  of  his  State  Grange  the 
sum  of  one  dollar  for  each  man  and  fifty  cents  for  each  woman 
initiated  during  that  quarter;  also  a  quarterly  due  of  six  cents 
for  each  member. 

Sec.  4.  The  Secretary  of  each  State  Grange  shall  report 
quarterly  to  the  Secretary  of  the  National  Grange  the  membership 
in  his  state,  and  the  degrees  conferred  during  the  quarter. 

Sec.  5.  The  Treasurer  of  each  State  Grange  shall  deposit  to 
the  credit  of  the  National  Grange  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry  with 
some  banking  or  trust  company  in  New  York  (to  be  selected  by 
the  Executive  Committee),  in  quarterly  instalments,  the  annual 
due  of  ten  cents  for  each  member  in  his  state,  and  forward  the 
receipts  for  the  same  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  National  Grange. 

Sec.  6.  All  moneys  deposited  with  said  company  shall  be  paid 
out  only  upon  the  drafts  of  the  Treasurer,  signed  by  the  Master 
and  countersigned  by  the  Secretary. 

Sec.  7.  No  State  Grange  shall  be  entitled  to  representation  in 
the  National  Grange  whose  dues  are  unpaid  for  more  than  one 
quarter. 

Article  VIII. — Requirements 

Section  1.  Reports  from  Subordinate  Granges  relative  to  crops, 
implements,  stock,  or  any  other  matters  called  for  by  the  Na- 
tional Grange,  must  be  certified  to  by  the  Master  and  Secretary, 
and  under  seal  of  the  Grange  giving  the  same. 

Sec.  2.  All  printed  matter  on  whatever  subject,  and  all  informa- 
tion issued  by  the  National  or  State  to  Subordinate  Granges, 
shall  be  made  known  to  the  members  without  unnecessary  delay. 
Sec.  3.  If  any  brothers  or  sisters  of  the  Order  are  sick  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  Patrons  to  visit  them,  and  see  that  they  are 
well  provided  with  all  things  needful. 


PERMANENT   ORGANIZATION    EFFECTED,    1872-1873      55 

Sec.  4.  Any  member  found  guilty  of  wanton  cruelty  to  animals 
shall  be  expelled  from  the  Order. 

Sec.  5.  The  officers  of  Subordinate  Granges  shall  be  on  the 
alert  in  devising  means  by  which  the  interests  of  the  whole  Order 
may  be  advanced ;  but  no  plan  of  work  shall  be  adopted  by  State 
or  Subordinate  Granges  without  first  submitting  it  to,  and  receiv- 
ing the  sanction  of,  the  National  Grange. 

Article  IX. — Charters  and  Dispensations 

Section  1.  All  charters  and  dispensations  issue  directly  from 
the  National  Grange. 

Sec.  2.  Nine  men  and  four  women  having  received  the  four 
Subordinate  Degrees,  may  receive  a  dispensation  to  organize  a 
Subordinate  Grange. 

Sec.  3.  Applications  for  dispensations  shall  be  made  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  National  Grange,  and  be  signed  by  the  persons 
applying  for  the  same,  and  be  accompanied  by  a  fee  of  fifteen 
dollars. 

Sec.  4.  Charter  members  are  those  persons  only  whose  names 
are  upon  the  application,  and  whose  fees  were  paid  at  the  time  of 
organization.  Their  number  shall  not  be  less  than  nine  men  and 
four  women,  nor  more  than  twenty  men  and  ten  women. 

Sec.  5.  Fifteen  Subordinate  Granges  working  in  a  State  can 
apply  for  authority  to  organize  a  State  Grange. 

Sec.  6.  When  State  Granges  are  organized,  dispensations  will 
be  replaced  by  charters,  issued  without  further  fee. 

Sec.  7.  All  charters  must  pass  through  the  State  Granges  for 
record,  and  receive  the  seal  and  official  signatures  of  the  same. 

Sec.  8.  No  Grange  shall  confer  more  than  one  degree  (either 
First,  Second,  Third,  or  Fourth)  at  the  same  meeting. 

Sec.  9.  After  a  State  Grange  is  organized,  all  applications  for 
charters  must  pass  through  the  same  and  be  approved  by  the 
Master  and  Secretary. 

Article  X. — Duties  of  Officers 

The  duties  of  the  officers  of  the  National,  State  and  Subor- 
dinate Granges  shall  be  prescribed  by  the  laws  of  the  same. 

Article  XI. — Treasurers 

Section  1.  The  Treasurers  of  the  National,  State  and  Subor- 
dinate Granges  shall  give  bonds,  to  be  approved  by  the  officers 
of  their  respective  Granges. 

Sec.  2.  In  all  the  Granges  bills  must  be  approved  by  the 
Master,  and  countersigned  by  the  Secretary,  before  the  Treasurer 
can  pay  the  same. 


56  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

Article  XII. — Restrictions 

Religious  and  political  questions  will  not  be  tolerated  as  sub- 
jects of  discussion  in  the  work  of  the  Order,  and  no  political  or 
religious  tests  for  membership  shall  be  applied. 

Article  XIII. — Amendments 

This  Constitution  can  be  altered  or  amended  by  a  two-thirds 
vote  of  the  National  Grange  at  any  Annual  meeting,  and  when 
such  alteration  or  amendment  shall  have  been  ratified  by  three- 
fourths  of  the  State  Granges,  and  the  same  reported  to  the  Sec- 
retary of  the  National  Grange,  it  shall  be  of  full  force. 


BY-LAWS 

Article  I. 

The  fourth  day  of  December,  the  birthday  of  the  Patrons  of 
Husbandry,  shall  be  celebrated  as  the  anniversary  of  the  Order. 

Article  II. 

Not  less  than  the  representation  of  ten  States  present  at  any 
meeting  of  the  National  Grange  shall  constitute  a  quorum  for  the 
transaction  of  business. 

Article  III. 
At  the  annual  meeting  of  each  State  Grange  it  may  elect  a 
proxy  to  represent  the  State  Grange  in  the  National  Grange  in 
case  of  the  inability  of  the  Master  to  attend,  but  such  proxy  shall 
not  thereby  be  entitled  to  the  Sixth  Degree. 

Article  IV. 

Questions  of  administration  and  jurisprudence  arising  in  and 
between  State  Granges,  and  appeals  from  the  action  and  decision 
thereof,  shall  be  referred  to  the  Master  and  Executive  Committee 
of  the  National  Grange,  whose  decision  shall  be  respected  and 
obeyed  until  overruled  by  action  of  the  National  Grange. 

Article  V. 
It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Master  to  preside  at  meetings  of 
the  National  Grange ;  to  see  that  all  officers  and  members  of  com- 
mittees properly  perform  their  respective  duties;  to  see  that  the 
Constitution,  By-Laws,  and  resolutions  of  the  National  Grange 
and  the  usages  of  the  Order  are  observed  and  obeyed ;  to  sign  all 


PERMANENT   ORGANIZATION    EFFECTED,    1872-1873      57 

drafts  drawn  upon  the  Treasury;  and  generally  to  perform  all 
duties  pertaining  to  such  office. 

Article  VI. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Secretary  to  keep  a  record  of  all 
proceedings  of  the  National  Grange,  to  keep  a  just  and  true 
account  of  all  moneys  received  and  paid  out  by  him,  to  counter- 
sign all  drafts  upon  the  Treasury,  to  conduct  the  correspondence 
of  the  National  Grange,  and  generally  to  act  as  the  administrative 
officer  of  the  National  Grange,  under  the  direction  of  the  Master 
and  the  Executive  Committee. 

It  shall  be  his  duty,  at  least  once  each  month,  to  deposit  with 
the  Fiscal  Agency  holding  the  funds  of  the  National  Grange 
all  moneys  that  may  have  come  into  his  hands,  and  forward  a 
duplicate  receipt  therefor  to  the  Treasurer,  and  to  make  a  full 
report  of  all  transactions  to  the  National  Grange  at  each  annual 
session. 

It  shall  be  his  further  duty  to  procure  a  monthly  report  from 
the  Fiscal  Agency  with  whom  the  funds  of  the  National  Grange 
are  deposited  of  all  moneys  received  and  paid  out  by  them  dur- 
ing each  month,  and  send  a  copy  of  such  report  to  the  Executive 
Committee  and  the  Master  of  the  National  Grange. 

Article  VII. 

Section  1.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Treasurer  to  issue  all 
drafts  upon  the  Fiscal  Agency  of  the  Order,  said  drafts  having 
been  previously  signed  by  the  Master  and  countersigned  by  the 
Secretary  of  the  National  Grange. 

Sec.  2.  He  shall  report  monthly  to  the  Master  of  the  National 
Grange,  through  the  office  of  the  Secretary,  a  statement  of  re- 
ceipt of  deposits  made  by  him  during  the  previous  month. 

Sec.  3.  He  shall  report  to  the  National  Grange  at  each  annual 
session  a  statement  of  all  receipts  of  deposits  made  by  him  and  of 
all  drafts  or  checks  signed  by  him  since  his  last  annual  report. 

Article  VIII. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Lecturer  to  visit,  for  the  good  of 
the  Order,  such  portions  of  the  United  States  as  the  Executive 
Committee  may  direct,  for  which  services  he  shall  receive  com- 
pensation. 

Article  IX. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Executive  Committee  to  exercise  a 
general  supervision  of  the  affairs  of  the  Order  during  the  recess 


58  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

of  the  National  Grange;  to  instruct  the  Secretary  in  regard  to 
printing  and  disbursements,  and  to  place  in  his  hands  a  contingent 
fund;  to  decide  all  questions  and  appeals  referred  to  them  by  the 
officers  and  members  of  State  Granges;  and  to  lay  before  the 
National  Grange  at  each  session  a  report  of  all  such  questions  and 
appeals,  and  their  decisions  thereon. 

Article  X. 

Section  1.  Such  compensation  for  time  and  services  shall  be 
given  the  Master,  Lecturer,  Secretary,  Treasurer,  and  Executive 
Committee  as  the  National  Grange  may,  from  time  to  time, 
determine. 

Sec.  2.  Whenever  General  Deputies  are  appointed  by  the 
Master  of  the  National  Grange,  said  Deputies  shall  receive  such 
compensation  for  time  and  service  as  may  be  determined  by  the 
Executive  Committee:  Provided,  In  no  case  shall  pay  from  the 
National  Grange  be  given  General  Deputies  in  any  state  after  the 
formation  of  its  State  Grange. 

Article  XL 

Section  1.  The  financial  existence  of  Subordinate  Granges 
shall  date  from  the  first  day  of  January,  first  day  of  April,  first 
day  of  July,  and  first  day  of  October  subsequent  to  the  day  of 
their  organization,  from  which  date  their  first  quarter  shall 
commence. 

Sec.  2.  State  Granges  shall  date  their  financial  existence  three 
months  after  the  first  day  of  January,  first  of  April,  first  of  July, 
and  first  of  October  immediately  following  their  organization. 

Article  XII. 
Each  State  Grange  shall  be  entitled  to  send  one  representative, 
who  shall  be  a  Master  thereof,  or  his  proxy,  to  all  meetings  of  the 
National  Grange.  He  shall  receive  mileage  at  the  rate  of  five 
cents  per  mile  both  ways,  computed  by  the  nearest  practicable 
route,  to  be  paid  as  follows:  The  Master  and  Secretary  of  the 
National  Grange  shall  give  such  representative  an  order  for  the 
amount  on  the  Treasurer  of  the  State  Grange  which  he  repre- 
sents, and  this  order  shall  be  receivable  by  the  National  Grange 
in  payment  of  State  dues. 

Article  XIII. 
Special  meetings  of  the  National  Grange  shall  be  called  by  the 
Master  upon  the  application  of  the  Masters  of  ten  State  Granges, 


PERMANENT  ORGANIZATION   EFFECTED,    1872-1873     59 

one  month's  notice  of  such  meeting  being  given  to  all  members 
of  the  National  Grange.  No  alterations  or  amendments  to  the 
By-Laws  or  Ritual  shall  be  made  at  any  special  meeting. 

Article  XIV. 

These  By-Laws  may  be  altered  or  amended  at  any  annual 
meeting  of  the  National  Grange  by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the 
members  present. 

The  changes  made  in  the  laws  of  the  Order  in  this 
new  Constitution  and  By-Laws,  although  numerous, 
were  by  no  means  in  opposition  to  the  plan  as  laid 
down  by  the  founders  originally.  There  was  no  change 
in  the  principles,  aims  or  leading  measures,  nor  in  the 
order  and  rank  of  degrees,  officers  or  Granges.  It  was 
simply  a  matter  of  getting  the  general  plan  of  the 
founders  upon  a  working  basis  in  the  growing  or- 
ganization. 

For  the  first  time  all  the  offices  in  the  National 
Grange  were  filled  for  the  term  of  three  years,  as  pro- 
vided by  the  Constitution,  by  electing  the  following: 

Master — Dudley  W.  Adams,  Iowa. 
Overseer — Thos.  Taylor,  South  Carolina. 
Lecturer — T.  A.  Thompson,  Minnesota. 
Steward — A.  J.  Vaughan,  Mississippi. 
Assistant  Steward — G.  W.  Thompson,  New  Jersey. 
Chaplain — A.  B.  Grosh,  District  of  Columbia. 
Treasurer — F.  M.  McDowell,  New  York. 
Secretary — O.  H.  Kelley,  District  of  Columbia. 
Gatekeeper — O.  Dinwiddie,  Indiana. 
Ceres — Mrs.  D.  W.  Adams,  Iowa. 
Pomona — Mrs.  O.  H.  Kelley,  District  of  Columbia. 
Flora — Mrs.  J.  C.  Abbott,  Iowa. 

Lady  Assistant  Steward — Miss  C.  A.  Hall,  District  of  Columbia. 
Executive  Committee — Wm.  Saunders  of  D.  C,  D.  W.  Aiken  of 
South  Carolina,  and  E.  R.  Shankland  of  Iowa. 

The  session  adjourned  to  meet  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  in 
February,  1874. 

Up  to  this  time  no  journal  of  proceedings  of  the  ses- 
sions of  the  National  Grange  had  been  published,  so  no 


60  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

record  has  come  down  to  us  except  the  references  made 
to  the  sessions  by  Mr.  Kelley  in  his  "History."  His 
references  are  often  confusing,  and  we  are  left  in  doubt 
as  to  which  of  the  various  meetings  he  considered 
"annual  sessions"  of  the  National  Grange.  The  journal 
of  this  session,  however,  was  published  as  the  "Pro- 
ceedings of  the  Sixth  Session  of  the  National  Grange 
of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry"  in  a  small  pamphlet  of 
34  pages.  Only  a  few  copies  were  printed,  and  these 
became  so  rare  that  in  1898  a  reprint  was  made  by 
order  of  the  National  Grange,  so  that  the  record  of  this 
first  delegate  session  would  not  become  lost  forever. 


CHAPTER    V 

Dudley  W.  Adams'  Administration,  First  Year  1873 — 
Seventh  Session  of  the  National  Grange 

When  the  National  Grange  closed  the  labors  of  the 
day  on  the  evening  of  January  11,  1873,  it  was  fully 
equipped  as  a  great  national  farmers'  organization, 
with  a  full  set  of  officers,  including  an  executive  com- 
mittee, who  were  duly  authorized  to  execute  the  laws 
of  the  Order  until  the  next  annual  session.  Dudley  W. 
Adams  of  Iowa  had  been  elected  Worthy  Master  for 
a  term  of  three  years,  as  provided  in  the  constitution 
just  adopted,  and  he  immediately  began  the  work 
made  incumbent  upon  him  thereby. 

The  three  years  of  the  D.  W.  Adams'  administration 
covered  one  of  the  most  active  periods  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  Order.  The  work  of  organization  was  go- 
ing forward  very  rapidly,  and  many  important  eco- 
nomic, social  and  educational  problems  affecting  the 
interests  of  agriculture  were  demanding  solution  and 
requiring  the  most  far-seeing  statesmanship. 

The  most  important  question  which  demanded  at- 
tention at  this  time  was  that  of  transportation.  Rail- 
roads were  being  extended  in  every  direction,  and  be- 
ing by  nature  a  monopoly,  they  controlled  the  com- 
merce of  the  country,  with  power  to  levy  taxes  and 
collect  tribute  from  every  individual  who  bought  or  sold. 
All  sorts  of  evils  had  crept  into  the  railroad  business 
of  the  country,  such  as  over-capitalization,  "watered 
stock,"  discrimination  against  individuals  and  places, 
influencing  courts  and  legislatures  by  free  passes  and 
otherwise,  and  many  others.  They  assumed  the  pre- 
rogatives of  sovereignty  with  a  good  deal  of  offensive 
arrogance,  which  was  widely  resented. 

61 


62  PATRONS  OF  HUSBANDRY 

From  1871  to  1875  came  the  Granger  revolt  against 
railroad  discrimination,  extortion  and  favoritism.  Up 
to  the  time  of  the  enactment  of  the  so-called  "Granger 
laws,"  the  railway  corporations  had  boldly  asserted 
their  rights  as  owners  and  managers  of  the  railroads  to 
manage  them  arbitrarily.  The  Grange  challenged  the 
assumption  that  railways  were  private  property  and 
subject  only  to  the  arbitrary  control  of  the  managers 
and  officers.  The  government  had  favored  the  railway 
theory,  and  in  the  beginning  of  the  contest  there  was 
arrayed  against  the  farmer  nearly  the  whole  legal  and 
newspaper  talent  of  the  country,  as  well  as  the  hos- 
tility of  the  political  leaders  of  whom  many  had  been 
seduced  by  the  corruption  of  railway  favors  in  the  way 
of  passes  and  other  courtesies. 

The  result  of  the  "Granger  Agitation"  was  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  principle  of  state  and  national  control 
of  railways,  and  this  principle  has  been  the  foundation 
of  all  subsequent  legislation  respecting  the  control  of 
railways.  It  is  manifestly  inexpedient  to  discuss  the 
great  transportation  problems  here,  but  the  Grange 
has  won  no  more  notable  and  far-reaching  victory  than 
the  one  cited  above,  and  in  his  "address"  to  the  seventh 
annual  session  of  the  National  Grange,  Worthy  Master 
Adams  suggested  state  and  national  control  of  rail- 
roads and  railroad  rates  by  means  of  state  and  inter- 
state railway  commissions.  "It  seems  clear  to  me," 
he  said,  "that  the  same  government  which  can  take  my 
land  for  the  public  good  and  fix  the  price  thereof,  can 
say  to  the  railroads,  'The  public  good  demands  that 
you  carry  freight  and  persons  at  reasonable  rates, 
which  you  henceforth  must  do,  and  we  will  decide 
what  those  rates  shall  be.'  " 

Throughout  the  year,  the  executive  committee  had 
taken  an  active  part  in  the  railroad  agitation,  and  it  is 
now  recognized  everywhere  that  the  outcome  of  this 
early  Grange  victory  was  sound  in  principle  and  of 


D.  W.  ADAMS'  ADMINISTRATION,  FIRST  YEAR   1873      63 

tremendous  value  to  the  whole  country  and  every  in- 
terest in  it,  as  well  as  that  of  agriculture. 

The  work  of  the  year  closed  with  the  meeting  of  the 
National  Grange  in  its  seventh  annual  session  at  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,    February  4,    1874.      In  his  address,    the 
Worthy  Master  said:      "The    work  of    the    National 
Grange  has  been  almost  exclusively  one  of  organiza- 
tion.   In  this  direction  its  success  has  been  such  as  to 
excite  the  constant  wonder  of  even  its  own  members, 
while  those  outside  the  gates  have  beheld  our  growth 
with  undisguised  amazement."      At    the  last    session 
there  were  nine  State  Granges  represented,  but  at  this 
session  there  were  32  State  Granges  duly  represented  by 
the  following  delegates:    Alabama,  W.  H.  Chambers; 
Arkansas,  John  T.  Jones ;  California,  J.  M.  Hamilton ; 
Colorado,  R.  O.  Tenney;  Dakota,  E.  B.  Crew;  Florida, 
B.  F.  Wardlaw;  Georgia,  T.  J.  and  Mrs.  Smith;  Iowa, 
A.  B.  and  Mrs.  Smedley;  Indiana,  H.  James;  Illinois, 
A.  Colder;  Kansas,  M.  E.  Hudson;  Kentucky,  M.  D. 
Davie;  Louisiana,  H.  W.  L.  Lewis;  Maryland,  J.  T. 
and  Mrs.  Moore;  Massachusetts,  T.  L.  Allis;  Michi- 
gan, S.  F.  Brown;  Missouri,  T.  R.  Allen;  Minnesota; 
G.  J.  and  Mrs.  Parsons;    Mississippi,   A.  J.  and  Mrs. 
Vaughan;  New  Jersey,  E.  and  Mrs.    Howland;    New 
Hampshire,  D.  T.  and  Mrs.  Chase;  New  York,  G.  D. 
Hinckley;  North  Carolina,  Columbus  and  Mrs.  Mills; 
Nebraska,  W.  B.  and  Mrs.  Porter;  Ohio,  S.  H.  Ellis; 
Oregon,  Daniel  Clark;  Pennsylvania,  D.  B.  Mauger; 
South  Carolina,  Thos.  and  Mrs.  Taylor;  Tennessee, 
William  and  Mrs.  Maxwell;  Virginia,  J.  W.  White; 
West     Virginia,     B.    M.    Kitchen;    Wisconsin,   John 
Cochrane. 

"When  the  first  Subordinate  Granges  had  been  or- 
ganized," says  Master  Adams,  "one  of  the  first  and 
most  important  subjects  for  discussion  was  how  to 
make  two  blades  of  grass  grow  where  one  grew  be- 
fore." During  these  discussions  the  fact  soon  became 
prominent  that  how  to  sell  crops  was  fully  as  knotty  a 


64  PATRONS   OF   HUSBANDRY 

question  as  how  to  grow  them.  The  Master  empha- 
sized the  importance  of  admitting  no  one  to  member- 
ship except  bona  fide  farmers,  and  called  attention 
to  the  fact  that  a  Grange  was  organized  the  last  sum- 
mer in  the  city  of  Boston  composed  of  a  class  com- 
monly known  as  "middlemen."  This  was  a  class  of 
members  never  contemplated  by  the  Constitution,  and 
the  Charter  to  this  Grange  was  canceled.  It  is  gener- 
ally believed  that  the  Grange  would  have  been  stronger 
if  it  had  drawn  the  plumb  line  of  agriculture  a  little 
more  closely  upon  those  admitted  to  the  Order.  On 
the  whole,  the  Worthy  Master's  address  was  a  strong, 
statesmanlike  analysis  of  the  general  situation  and  the 
needs  of  the  Order. 

The  Secretary's  report  showed  the  total  receipts  for 
the  year  $132,151.20,  with  a  total  balance  of  $52,818.05 
on  hand. 

The  Executive  Committee  declared  in  its  report 
that  "the  high  purposes  and  aims  of  the  Order,  the 
grand  objects  it  seeks  to  promote  and  secure,  and  the 
modes  by  which  they  are  to  be  advanced  and  retained 
are  all  founded  upon  a  deep,  studied  philosophy  and  not 
upon  temporary  or  indefinite  expedients."  In  this 
same  report  it  is  proposed  that  agricultural  statistics 
be  gathered  and  that  a  national  bureau  of  marketing 
be  established.  Congress  may  have  gone  back  to  this 
suggestion  made  in  1874  for  the  idea  of  a  Market 
Bureau,  which  was  established  in  the  Department  of 
Agriculture  in  191 3. 

The  salaries  of  officers  for  the  year  1874  were  fixed 
as  follows :  Master  $1,500  for  the  year  1873  (no  salary 
fixed  for  Master  for  1874);  Treasurer,  $1,000;  Secre- 
tary, $2,500 ;  Lecturer,  $5  a  day  and  traveling  expenses ; 
Executive  Committee,  $5  a  day  and  expenses  when  on 
business  for  the  Grange. 

The  term  of  E.  R.  Shankland  as  member  of  the  Ex- 
ecutive Committee  having  expired,  he  was  re-elected 
for  a  term  of  three  years.    Mrs.  O.  H.  Kelley  having 


D.  W.  ADAMS*  ADMINISTRATION,  FIRST  YEAR   1873      65 

resigned  as  Pomona,  Mrs.  Thos.  Taylor  of  South  Caro- 
lina was  elected  for  the  unexpired  term.  The  office  of 
Flora  having  been  declared  vacant,  Mrs.  Joseph  T. 
Moore  of  Maryland  was  duly  elected. 

Among  the  numerous  proposed  amendments  to 
the  Constitution  was  one,  which  was  later  adopted, 
naming  the  following  seven  "founders  of  the  Order" : 
William  Saunders,  O.  H.  Kelley,  J.  R.  Thomp- 
son, A.  B.  Grosh,  W.  M.  Ireland,  John  Trimble 
and  F.  M.  McDowell.  Just  why  these  men  and  no 
others  should  be  recognized  as  "founders"  and  Miss 
Carrie  A.  Hall  excluded  has  never  been  made  very 
clear.  Provision  was  made  for  the  organization  of 
county  and  district  Granges.  Important  resolutions 
adopted  favored  the  improvement  of  the  Mississippi 
river  with  a  permanent  outlet  to  the  Gulf;  that  Con- 
gress regulate  commerce  between  the  states;  that  laws 
be  enacted  restoring  our  foreign  commerce  to  its 
former  condition  and  efficiency. 

The  subject  of  business  co-operation  was  given 
much  prominence,  and  the  declaration  made  that  "it 
should  be  our  purpose  to  arrange  a  business  system  by 
which  an  exchange  of  products  may  be  made  direct 
between  the  producer  and  the  consumer  without  the 
intervention  of  an  unnecessary  number  of  middlemen." 
As  we  follow  the  records  of  the  National  Grange  and 
see  the  advanced  position  taken  by  it  upon  economic 
questions,  the  more  we  are  impressed  with  the  value 
of  its  wise  leadership. 

The  most  important  work  done  by  the  seventh  ses- 
sion of  the  National  Grange  was  the  adoption  of  its 
splendid  "Declaration  of  Purposes."  In  Oliver  R. 
Ingersoll's  story  of  the  writing  of  this  historic  produc- 
tion, which  we  have  somewhat  abbreviated,  he  says : 
"The  Declaration  of  Purposes  is  a  document  which  has 
excited  the  admiration  of  the  world,  and  has  never 
been  even  compared  with  any  less  document  than  the 


66  patrons  of  husbandry; 

Declaration  of  Independence  by  the    Fathers  of   this 
Republic,  written  by  Thomas  Jefferson. 

"This  document  is  held  by  many  competent  judges 
to  excel  the  older  Declaration  in  the  grandeur  of  its 
declarations,  in  the  poetic  beauty  of  its  diction,  the 
rhythm  and  cadence  of  sentences,  the  balancing  of  its 
parts,  and  its  noble  enunciation  of  purposes,  firm  and 
resolute,  yet  not  dogmatic,  and  marked  by  a  complete 
absence  of  everything  bordering  on  braggadocio. 

"It  is  a  declaration  of  the  enormous  agricultural  class 
of  this  great  nation,  who  for  the  first  time  after  so 
many  long  years  of  silence  and  separation  from 
each  other,  came  together  'in  Congress  assembled' 
from  the  North,  South,  East  and  West,  and  as  one 
man  solemnly,  silently  and  unanimously  adopted  thus 
their  Declaration  of  Purposes.  It  instantly  challenged 
the  respect  of  the  world,  and  its  influence  is  increasing, 
while  its  grand  beauties  become  more  and  more  appre- 
ciated as  time  rolls  by. 

"The  idea  of  such  a  document,  and  even  the  name 
'Declaration  of  Purposes,'  instead  of  Principles,  was 
that  of  Brother  J.  W.  A.  Wright,  then  Past  Master  of 
the  State  Grange  of  California,  being  its  first  Master. 
Brother  Wright  had  no  idea  of  doing  such  a  work  until 
the  9th  day  of  February,  1874.  The  National  Grange 
was  in  session  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  when  Brother 
Hamilton,  his  successor  as  Master  of  the  State  Grange 
of  California,  requested  him  as  Master  of  the  State 
Grange  to  act  in  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  in  his 
stead.  Brother  Dudley  W.  Adams,  the  Master  of  the 
National  Grange,  spoke  of  placing  him  there,  and  he 
had  requested  Brother  Adams  to  appoint  Brother 
Wright  for  the  work.  Brother  Wright  immediately 
took  the  matter  in  charge  and  spent  upon  it  the  greater 
part  of  two  days  and  nights,  it  being  between  two  and 
three  o'clock  in  the  morning  before  he  sought  rest. 

"In  preparing  the  document,  he  availed  himself  of  the 
friendly  suggestions  of  four,  and  only  four,  other  mem- 


D.  W.  ADAMS'  ADMINISTRATION,  FIRST  YEAR   1873      6? 

bers  of  the  Order.  These  were  the  Hon.  D.  Wyatt 
Aiken,  M.  C,  of  South  Carolina,  Past  Master  State 
Grange  of  South  Carolina,  and  for  so  many  years  chair- 
man of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  National 
Grange;  Brother  N.  W.  Garretson  of  Iowa,  who  or- 
ganized the  State  Granges  of  California  and  Oregon; 
Brother  Ezra  S.  Carr,  agricultural  professor  of  the 
University  of  California ;  and  Brother  Jno.  T.  Jones  of 
Arkansas,  who  with  Brother  Aiken  was  on  the  Com- 
mittee on  Resolutions  at  St.  Louis.  With  Brother 
Garretson's  consent  (who  was  present)  Brother 
Wright  inserted  words  which  he  had  given  him  in 
rough  pencil  notes  in  California,  for  that  part  under 
'Specific  Objects,'  which  read  as  follows: 

"  'To  develop  a  better  and  higher  manhood  and  womanhood 
among  ourselves.  To  enhance  the  comforts  and  attractions  of 
our  homes,  and  strengthen  our  attachment  to  our  pursuits.  To 
foster  mutual  understanding  and  co-operation.  To  maintain  in- 
violate our  laws,  and  to  emulate  each  other  in  labor,  to  hasten  the 
good  time  coming.  To  reduce  our  expenses,  both  individual  and 
corporate.  To  buy  less  and  produce  more,  in  order  to  make  our 
farms  self-sustaining.  To  diversify  our  crops,  and  crop  no  more 
than  we  can  cultivate.  To  condense  the  weight  of  our  exports, 
selling  less  in  the  bushel,  and  more  on  hoof  and  in  fleece;  less  in 
lint,  and  more  in  warp  and  woof.  To  systematize  our  work,  and 
calculate  intelligently  on  probabilities.  To  discountenance  the 
credit  system,  the  mortgage  system,  the  fashion  system,  and  every 
other  system  tending  to  prodigality  and  bankruptcy. 

"  'We  propose  meeting  together,  talking  together,  working  to- 
gether, buying  together,  selling  together.' 

"He  slightly  changed  the  forms  of  expression  while 
engrafting  the  principles  to  make  it  all  fit  in  symmetri- 
cally. Brother  Jones  of  Arkansas  (afterwards  Worthy 
Master  of  the  National  Grange)  asked  Brother  Wright 
to  insert  the  following  words,  which  he  had  written  on 
a  slip  of  paper: 

'Hence  we  hold  that  transportation  companies  of 
every  kind  are  necessary  to  our  success,  that  their  in- 
terests are  intimately  connected  with    our    interests, 


68  PATRONS   OF   HUSBANDRY 

and  harmonious  action  is  mutually  advantageous,  keep- 
ing in  view  the  first  sentence  in  our  Declaration  of 
Principles  of  Action,  that  'individual  happiness  de- 
pends upon  general  prosperity/ 

"Brother  Wright  fitted  this  in  under  'Business  Rela- 
tions,' changing  the  introduction  slightly.  Under 
'Education,'  the  following  words  were  suggested  in  a 
letter  which  Brother  Wright  received  from  Brother 
Carr  of  California  a  day  or  two  before  he  drafted  the 
'Declaration  of  Purposes':  'Advocate  for  our  agricul- 
tural and  industrial  colleges  that  practical  agriculture, 
domestic  science  and  all  the  arts  which  adorn  the  home, 
be  taught  in  their  courses  of  study.' 

"Under  'Business  Relations'  Brother  Wright  had 
written :  'We  are  opposed  to  high  salaries,  high  rates 
of  interest  and  high  per  cent  profits  in  trade.'  Brother 
Aiken  suggested  that  it  be  changed  to  read:  'We  are 
opposed  to  excessive  salaries,  high  rates  of  interest,  and 
exorbitant  per  cent  profits  in  trade.'  The  change  was  at 
once  accepted  and  appreciated  as  an  improvement. 
This  is  the  plain,  unvarnished  record  of  the  inception  and 
completion  of  a  document  that  reads  as  if  inspired  by  a 
higher  power. 

"The  next  day,  February  n,  1874,  Brother  Wright 
was  requested  to  read  the  Declaration  before  the  Na- 
tional Grange. 

"While  it  was  being  read  the  silence  was  oppressive, 
every  ear  was  strained  to  catch  each  word  as  it  fell  from 
his  eloquent  lips.  He  read  them  in  such  an  impassioned 
manner  that  all  realized  that  he  spoke  from  his  heart 
and  soul.  That  the  Declaration  voiced  the  longings 
and  desires  for  "the  good  time  coming"  of  all  present, 
was  apparent.  For  several  minutes  after  Brother 
Wright  resumed  his  seat  the  dead  silence  was  con- 
tinued. It  was  almost  painful,  too  deep  for  expression, 
too  solemn  for  applause.  As  soon  as  the  spell  which 
bound  the  assembly  could  be  lifted  the  document  was 
adopted  unanimously  by  a  full  vote.    These  Declare 


D.  W.  ADAMS'  ADMINISTRATION,  FIRST  YEAR    1873      69 

tions  have  been  read  to  thousands  of  Granges  since 
that  memorable  day  with  similar  effect.  Time  seems 
to  add  to  their  beauty  and  attraction.  Not  a  word  can 
be  added  to  or  taken  from  them,  without  detracting 
from  their  beauty  and  harmony." 

At  the  session  of  the  National  Grange  in  Boston, 
November,  1885,  a  change  was  adopted  substituting 
the  word  "all"  for  "the  greatest  number."  In  the  ses- 
sion at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  November,  1897,  the  orig- 
inal words  were  restored  by  unanimous  vote.  The 
words,  "political  or  religious,"  which  appear  in  the 
original  form  were  later  changed  to  "partisan  or  sec- 
tarian."   No  other  change  was  ever  made. 

Below  is  the  "Declaration  of  Purposes"  in  its  orig- 
inal form : 


DECLARATION  OF  PURPOSES 

of  the 

PATRONS  OF  HUSBANDRY 

Adopted  by  the  National  Grange  at  its  Seventh  An- 
nual Session,  held  at  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
February,  1874. 

PREAMBLE 

Profoundly  impressed  with  the  truth  that  the  National  Grange 
of  the  United  States  should  definitely  proclaim  to  the  world  its 
general  objects,  we  hereby  unanimously  make  this  Declaration  of 
Purposes  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry : 

GENERAL  OBJECTS 

1.  United  by  the  strong  and  faithful  tie  of  Agriculture,  we 
mutually  resolve  to  labor  for  the  good  of  our  Order,  our  country 
and  mankind. 

2.  We  heartily  indorse  the  motto,  "Tn  essentials,  unity;  in  non- 
essentials, liberty;  in  all  things,  charity." 


JO  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY, 

SPECIFIC  OBJECTS 

3.  We  shall  endeavor  to  advance  our  cause  by  laboring  to 
accomplish  the  following  objects: 

To  develop  a  better  and  higher  manhood  and  womanhood 
among  ourselves.  To  enhance  the  comforts  and  attractions  of 
our  homes,  and  strengthen  our  attachments  to  our  pursuits.  To 
foster  mutual  understanding  and  co-operation.  To  maintain  in- 
violate our  laws,  and  to  emulate  each  other  in  labor,  to  hasten  the 
good  time  coming.  To  reduce  our  expenses,  both  individual  and 
corporate.  To  buy  less  and  produce  more,  in  order  to  make 
our  farms  self-sustaining.  To  diversify  our  crops,  and  crop  no 
more  than  we  can  cultivate.  To  condense  the  weight  of  our  ex- 
ports, selling  less  in  the  bushel,  and  more  on  hoof  and  in  fleece ; 
less  in  lint,  and  more  in  warp  and  woof.  To  systematize  our  work 
and  calculate  intelligently  on  probabilities.  To  discountenance 
the  credit  system,  the  mortgage  system,  the  fashion  system,  and 
every  other  system  tending  to  prodigality  and  bankruptcy. 

We  propose  meeting  together,  talking  together,  working  to- 
gether, buying  together,  selling  together,  and,  in  general,  acting 
together  for  our  mutual  protection,  and  advancement,  as  occa- 
sion may  require. 

We  shall  avoid  litigation  as  much  as  possible,  by  arbitration 
in  the  Grange.  We  shall  constantly  strive  to  secure  entire  har- 
mony, good-will,  vital  brotherhood  among  ourselves,  and  to  make 
our  Order  perpetual.  We  shall  earnestly  endeavor  to  suppress 
personal,  local,  sectional,  and  national  prejudices,  all  unhealthy 
rivalry,  all  selfish  ambition.  Faithful  adherence  to  these  prin- 
ciples will  insure  our  mental,  moral,  social  and  material  ad- 
vancement. 

BUSINESS  RELATIONS 

4.  For  our  business  interests,  we  desire  to  bring  producers 
and  consumers,  farmers  and  manufacturers,  into  the  most  direct 
and  friendly  relations  possible.  Hence  we  must  dispense  with 
a  surplus  of  middlemen,  not  that  we  are  unfriendly  to  them,  but 
we  do  not  need  them.  Their  surplus  and  their  exactions  diminish 
our  profits. 

We  wage  no  aggressive  warfare  against  any  other  interests 
whatever.  On  the  contrary,  all  our  acts,  and  all  our  efforts,  so 
far  as  business  is  concerned,  are  not  only  for  the  benefit  of  the 
producer  and  consumer,  but  also  for  all  other  interests  that  tend 
to  bring  these  two  parties  into  speedy  and  economical  contact. 
Hence  we  hold  that  transportation  companies  of  every  kind  are 
necessary  to  our  success,  that  their  interests  are  intimately  con- 
nected with  our  interests,  and  harmonious  action  is  mutually  ad- 


D.  W.  ADAMS'  ADMINISTRATION,  FIRST  YEAR   1873      71 

vantageous,  keeping  in  view  the  first  sentence  in  our  Declaration 
of  Principles  of  Action,  that  "individual  happiness  depends  upon 
general  prosperity." 

We  shall  therefore  advocate  for  every  State  the  increase  in 
every  practicable  way  of  all  facilities  for  transporting  cheaply 
to  the  sea-board,  or  between  home  producers  and  consumers,  all 
the  productions  of  our  country.  We  adopt  it  as  our  fixed  pur- 
pose "to  open  out  the  channels  in  nature's  great  arteries,  that  the 
life  blood  of  commerce  may  flow  freely." 

We  are  not  enemies  of  railroads,  navigable  and  irrigating 
canals,  or  of  any  corporation  that  will  advance  our  industrial 
interests,  nor  of  any  laboring  classes. 

In  our  noble  Order  there  is  no  communism,  no  agrarianism. 

We  are  opposed  to  such  spirit  and  management  of  any  cor- 
poration or  enterprise  as  tends  to  oppress  the  people,  and  rob 
them  of  their  just  profits.  We  are  not  enemies  to  capital,  but 
we  oppose  the  tyranny  of  monopolies.  We  long  to  see  the  an- 
tagonism between  capital  and  labor  removed  by  common  consent, 
and  by  an  enlightened  statesmanship  worthy  of  the  nineteenth 
century.  We  are  opposed  to  excessive  salaries,  high  rates  of 
interest,  and  exorbitant  per  cent  profits  in  trade.  They  greatly 
increase  our  burdens,  and  do  not  bear  a  proper  proportion  to  the 
profits  of  producers.  We  desire  only  self-protection,  and  the 
protection  of  every  true  interest  of  our  land  by  legitimate  trans- 
actions, legitimate  trade  and  legitimate  profits. 

EDUCATION 

We  shall  advance  the  cause  of  education  among  ourselves, 
and  for  our  children,  by  all  just  means  within  our  power.  We 
especially  advocate  for  our  agricultural  and  industrial  colleges 
that  practical  agriculture,  domestic  science,  and  all  the  arts  which 
adorn  the  home,  be  taught  in  their  courses  of  study. 

THE  GRANGE  NOT  PARTISAN 

5.  V/e  emphatically  and  sincerely  assert  the  oft-repeated  truth 
taught  in  our  organic  laws  that  the  Grange — National,  State  or 
Subordinate — is  not  a  political  or  party  organization.  No  Grange, 
if  true  to  its  obligations,  can  discuss  political  or  religious  ques- 
tions, nor  call  political  conventions,  nor  nominate  candidates,  nor 
even  discuss  their  merits  in  its  meetings. 

Yet  the  principles  we  teach  underlie  all  true  politics,  all  true 
statesmanship,  and  if  properly  carried  out,  will  tend  to  purify 
the  whole  political  atmosphere  of  our  country,  for  we  seek  the 
greatest  good  to  the  greatest  number. 


72  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

We  always  bear  in  mind  that  no  one  by  becoming  a  Patron  of 
Husbandry  gives  up  that  inalienable  right  and  duty  which  belongs 
to  every  American  citizen,  to  take  a  proper  interest  in  the  politics 
of  his  country. 

On  the  contrary,  it  is  right  for  every  member  to  do  all  in  his 
power  legitimately  to  influence  for  good  the  action  of  any  politi- 
cal party  to  which  he  belongs.  It  is  his  duty  to  do  all  he  can  in  his 
own  party  to  put  down  bribery,  corruption  and  trickery;  to  see 
that  none  but  competent,  faithful  and  honest  men,  who  will  un- 
flinchingly stand  by  our  industrial  interests,  are  nominated  for 
all  positions  of  trust;  and  to  have  carried  out  the  principle  which 
should  characterize  every  Patron,  that  the  office  slwuld  seek  the 
man  and  not  the  man  the  office. 

We  acknowledge  the  broad  principle  that  difference  of  opinion 
is  no  crime,  and  hold  that  "progress  toward  truth  is  made  by 
differences  of  opinion,"  while  the  fault  lies  in  bitterness  of  con- 
troversy. 

We  desire  a  proper  equality,  equity  and  fairness;  protection 
for  the  weak,  restraint  upon  the  strong;  in  short,  justly  dis- 
tributed burdens,  and  justly  distributed  power.  These  are 
American  ideas,  the  very  essence  of  American  independence,  and 
to  advocate  the  contrary  is  unworthy  of  the  sons  and  daughters 
of  an  American  republic. 

We  cherish  the  belief  that  sectionalism  is,  and  of  right  should 
be,  dead  and  buried  with  the  past.  Our  work  is  for  the  present 
and  the  future.  In  our  agricultural  brotherhood  and  its  purposes, 
we  shall  recognize  no  North,  no  South,  no  East,  no  West. 

It  is  reserved  by  every  Patron,  as  the  right  of  a  freeman,  to 
affiliate  with  any  party  that  will  best  carry  out  his  principles. 

OUTSIDE  CO-OPERATION 

6.  Ours  being  peculiarly  a  farmers'  institution,  we  cannot 
admit  all  to  our  ranks. 

Many  are  excluded  by  the  nature  of  our  organization,  not 
because  they  are  professional  men,  or  artisans,  or  laborers,  but 
because  they  have  not  a  sufficient  direct  interest  in  tilling  the 
soil,  or  may  have  some  interest  in  conflict  with  our  purposes. 
But  we  appeal  to  all  good  citizens  for  their  cordial  co-operation 
to  assist  in  our  efforts  toward  reform,  that  we  may  eventually 
remove  from  our  midst  the  last  vestige  of  tyranny  and  cor- 
ruption. 

We  hail  the  general  desire  for  fraternal  harmony,  equitable 
compromises  and  earnest  co-operation,  as  an  omen  of  our  future 
success. 


D.  W.  ADAMS'  ADMINISTRATION,  FIRST  YEAR    1873      73 

CONCLUSION 

7.  It  shall  be  an  abiding  principle  with  us  to  relieve  any  of  our 
oppressed  and  suffering  brotherhood  by  any  means  at  our  com- 
mand. 

Last,  but  not  least,  we  proclaim  it  among  our  purposes  to 
inculcate  a  proper  appreciation  of  the  abilities  and  sphere  of 
woman,  as  is  indicated  by  admitting  her  to  membership  and 
position  in  our  Order. 

Imploring  the  continued  assistance  of  our  Divine  Master  to 
guide  us  in  our  work,  we  here  pledge  ourselves  to  faithful  and 
harmonious  labor  for  all  future  time,  to  return  by  our  united 
efforts  to  the  wisdom,  justice,  fraternity  and  political  purity  of 
our  forefathers. 


CHAPTER    VI 

D.  W.  Adams'  Administration,  Last  Two  Years,  1874- 

1875 — Eighth  and  Ninth  Sessions  of  the 

National  Grange 

February,  1874,  the  month  in  which  the  National 
Grange  met  in  seventh  annual  session,  was  the  banner 
month  in  all  Grange  history  in  the  number  of  new 
Granges  organized,  with  a  total  of  2,239.  The  whole 
number  organized  during  the  year  1874  was  11,941, 
and  no  year  before  or  since  has  shown  so  large  an  in- 
crease. "All  through  the  land  Granges  were  springing 
up  like  mushrooms." 

During  that  year  the  membership  in  the  Grange  had 
been  more  than  doubled.  The  question  of  eligibility 
to  membership  had  become  a  pressing  question.  Ac- 
cording to  the  Constitution  any  person  "interested" 
in  agricultural  pursuits  was  eligible.  But  that  clause 
was  susceptible  of  such  varied  interpretation  that  much 
confusion  and  misunderstanding  resulted.  Worthy 
Master  Adams  uttered  a  word  of  caution  when  he  said  : 
"To  be  a  Patron  of  Husbandry  is  no  longer  of  doubtful 
propriety,  but  the  proudest  in  the  land  are  knocking  at 
our  door.  The  Order  has  become  recognized  as  one 
of  the  great  powers  in  the  land,  and  the  gates  are  being 
besieged  from  ocean  to  ocean  by  hordes  of  speculators, 
demagogues,  small  politicians,  grain  buyers,  cotton 
factors  and  lawyers,  who  suddenly  discover  that  they 
are  'interested  in  agricultural  pursuits' ;  but  only  as  the 
hawk  is  interested  in  the  sparrow.  You  would  do  well 
to  give  this  matter  a  most  careful  review,  and  by  law 
determine  the  proper  construction  of  the  Constitution 
so  we  may  be  able  to  keep  our  gates  closed  against 
those  whose  only  interest  is  what  they  can  make  out 
of  us.  To  have  such  admitted  to  our  counsels  can  only 
result  in  evil  and  sow  seeds  of  internal  strife." 

74 


D.  W.  ADAMS'  ADMINISTRATION,  LAST  TWO  YEARS      75 

We  are  told  by  Mr.  Aiken  that  "one  Grange  was  or- 
ganized on  Broadway,  New  York,  with  a  membership 
of  45,  representing  a  capital  of  perhaps  as  many  mil- 
lions, and  composed  of  bank  presidents,  wholesale 
dealers,  sewing  machine  manufacturers,  and  Wall 
Street  speculators,  the  only  member  who  could  lay 
the  least  claim  to  having  an  interest  in  agriculture 
being  a  merchant  who  owned  a  house  and  lot  in  the 
White  Mountains  where  he  usually  spent  his  sum- 
mers." In  addition  to  a  similar  experience  in  Boston, 
in  New  Jersey  near  New  York  City,  a  Grange  had  a 
general  of  the  army  as  Master,  a  stone  mason  as  Secre- 
tary and  the  owner  of  a  grain  elevator  as  Chaplain. 
"These  wily  men,"  says  Mr.  Aiken,  "of  course  sapped 
the  very  foundation  of  the  Order  and  rendered  it  al- 
most lifeless  in  more  states  than  one." 

Even  to  this  day  too  many  men  are  admitted  to  the 
Grange  who  have  no  substantial  interest  in  agriculture 
and  in  more  than  one  instance  men  have  reached  the 
office  of  Master  of  a  State  Grange  who  can  lay  little  or 
no  claim  to  being  farmers.  The  Constitution  has  been 
made  somewhat  more  stringent  on  this  matter,  but  it 
is  still  variously  interpreted,  and  in  many  Granges  it  is 
so  liberally  interpreted  that  a  large  part  of  the  mem- 
bership has  little  or  no  real  "interest  in  agricultural 
pursuits." 

Throughout  the  year  1874  much  of  the  time  and 
energy  of  the  National  Grange  officers  was  given  to 
the  work  of  organization,  and  the  many  complications 
that  naturally  arose  out  of  their  efforts  to  discipline 
such  an  army  of  raw  recruits. 

The  eighth  annual  session  of  the  National  Grange 
met  at  Charleston,  S.  C,  February  3  to  16,  1875.  All 
the  officers  were  present : 

Master — Dudley  W.  Adams,  Iowa. 
Overseer — Thomas  Taylor,  South  Carolina. 
Lecturer — T.  A.  Thompson,  Minnesota. 
Steward— A.  J.  Vaughan,  Mississippi. 


j6  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

Assistant  Steward — G.  W.  Thompson,  New  Jersey. 
Chaplain — Rev.  A.  B.  Grosh,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Treasurer — F.  M.  McDowell,  New  York. 
Secretary — O.  H.  Kelley,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Gatekeeper — O.  Dinwiddie,  Indiana. 
Ceres — Mrs.  D.  W.  Adams,  Iowa. 
Pomona — Mrs.  Thomas  Taylor,  South  Carolina. 
Flora — Mrs.  J.  T.  Moore,  Maryland. 

Lady  Assistant  Steward — Miss  Carrie  A.  Hall,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Executive  Committee — William  Saunders,  E.  R.  Shankland,  and 
D.  Wyatt  Aiken. 

Thirty-three  states  were  represented  by  the  follow- 
ing delegates  :  Alabama,  W.  H.  Chambers ;  Arkansas, 
John  T.  and  Mrs.  Jones;  California,  J.  M.  Hamilton; 
Colorado,  R.  Q.  and  Mrs.  Tenney;  Dakota,  E.  B.  and 
Mrs.  Crew;  Florida,  B.  F.  Wardlaw;  Georgia,  J.  T. 
and  Mrs.  Smith;  Illinois,  Alonzo  Golder;  Iowa,  A.  B. 
and  Mrs.  Smedley;  Kansas,  M.  E.  Hudson;  Kentucky, 
M.  D.  Davie;  Mississippi,  W.  L.  Hemingway;  Louis- 
iana, H.  W.  L.  Lewis;  Maine,  Nelson  Ham;  Maryland, 
John  T.  and  Mrs.  Moore;  Massachusetts,  J.  P.  and 
Mrs.  Felton;  Michigan,  J.  J.  and  Mrs.  Woodman; 
Minnesota,  S.  E.  and  Mrs.  Adams;  Missouri,  T.  R.  and 
Mrs.  Allen;  Nebraska,  W.  B.  and  Mrs.  Porter;  New 
Hampshire,  D.  T.  and  Mrs.  Chase ;  New  Jersey,  Morti- 
mer and  Mrs.  Whitehead;  New  York,  G.  D.  Hinckley; 
North  Carolina,  Columbus  and  Mrs.  Mills ;  Ohio,  S.  H. 
and  Mrs.  Ellis;  Oregon,  Daniel  and  Mrs.  Clark;  Penn- 
sylvania, D.  B.  Mauger;  Tennessee,  William  and  Mrs. 
Maxwell ;  Texas,  W.  W.  Lang;  Vermont,  E.  P.  Colton ; 
Virginia,  J.  W.  White ;  West  Virginia,  B.  M.  Kitchen ; 
Wisconsin,  John  and  Mrs.  Cochrane. 

The  financial  statements  made  by  the  Secretary  and 
Treasurer  showed  the  receipts  for  the  fiscal  year  from 
all  sources,  $229,533.72,  with  a  balance  of  $53,054.02  re- 
maining in  the  treasury,  besides  $99,962.50  in  govern- 
ment bonds. 

That  this  large  income  was  to  continue  was  hardly 
to  be  expected.     Thereafter  the  individual    members 


D.  W.  ADAMS'  ADMINISTRATION,  LAST  TWO  YEARS      77 

were  to  contribute  but  5  cents  a  year  each  to  the  in- 
come of  the  National  Grange,  and  most  of  its  income 
at  this  time  came  from  the  $15  charter  fees  paid  by 
new  Granges.  That  there  must  sooner  or  later  be  a 
reaction  was  inevitable,  for  everything  indicated 
that  the  "wildfire"  of  organization  that  had  been 
spreading  over  the  country  the  last  two  years  was 
already  burning  itself  out  in  many  places.  Finding 
itself  in  possession  of  such  a  large  income,  the 
Grange  passed  an  order  authorizing  the  Executive 
Committee  to  lend  each  State  Grange  a  sum  equal 
to  $2.50  for  each  Subordinate  Grange  in  the  state. 
This  required  a  total  sum  of  $54,825,  which  in  addition 
to  $18,614.33,  which  had  already  been  donated  to  cer- 
tain State  Granges,  made  a  total  of  $73,439-33-  In  the 
light  of  subsequent  experience  this  action  was  worse 
than  folly,  as  is  shown  by  the  following  quotation 
from  Mr.  Aiken :  "Scarcely  had  we  grown  to 
these  huge  proportions  as  an  Order  before  mutter- 
ings  were  occasionally  heard  like  the  rumbling  of 
distant  thunder,  and  anon  a  storm  cloud  burst  upon 
us  which  tested  the  elasticity  and  strength  of  our  fra- 
ternal bands.  Lack  of  discipline  was  everywhere 
manifest,  jealousy  and  envy  began  to  crop  out  among 
the  rank  and  file  of  the  Order,  and  rising  like  a  gaunt 
and  bloody  specter,  shook  their  gory  locks  in  the  faces 
of  the  leaders  and  demanded  a  distribution  of  the 
funds  then  in  the  treasury  of  the  National  Grange.  To  ap- 
pease this  unreasonable  demand  the  faint-hearted, 
constituting  a  majority  of  the  voting  members  of  the 
National  Grange  at  its  eighth  session  held  in  Charles- 
ton, S.  C,  in  February,  1875,  yielded  to  the  clamor  and 
voted  to  disburse  gratuitously  $54,825  among  the 
Subordinate  Granges  throughout  the  Union.  .  .  .  The 
aggregate  expenditure  of  that  large  amount  in  this 
manner  was  an  extravagant  squandering  of  the  funds 
of  the  National  Grange." 


78  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

The  Worthy  Master  was  allowed  $2,000  salary  for 
1874,  and  his  salary  for  1875  was  fixed  at  the  same 
amount.  The  Executive  Committee  were  allowed 
a  salary  for  1875  as  follows:  William  Saunders, 
$1,000;  E.  R.  Shankland  and  D.  Wyatt  Aiken, 
$1,500  each  and  actual  traveling  expenses  when  on 
business  of  the  Grange.  Salary  of  Lecturer  and  Treas- 
urer, $1,000  each  and  traveling  expenses.  Salary  of 
Secretary  was  fixed  at  $2,500  a  year  and  ordered  "that 
the  Worthy  Secretary  have  such  assistance  in  his  office 
as  the  Executive  Committee  may  deem  necessary  and 
their  compensation  to  be  fixed  by  the  committee." 

The  much-amended  Constitution  provided  for  a 
"Court  of  Appeals,"  to  be  composed  of  the  Worthy 
Master  and  two  members  of  the  Executive  Committee. 
It  also  provided  for  the  enlargement  of  the  Executive 
Committee  from  three  to  five  members.    The  term  of 

D.  Wyatt  Aiken  as  member  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee having  expired,  three  members  were  elected  as 
follows,  for  a  term  of  three  years :  D.  Wyatt  Aiken  of 
South  Carolina,  Dudley  T.  Chase  of  New  Hampshire, 
and  John  T.  Jones  of  Arkansas,  William  Saunders  and 

E.  R.  Shankland  holding  over. 

The  amended  Constitution  also  changed  the  date  of 
meeting  from  the  first  Wednesday  in  February  to 
the  third  Wednesday  in  November. 

In  studying  the  Journal  of  Proceedings  of  this  most 
remarkable  session  of  the  National  Grange  one  is  im- 
pressed with  the  tremendous  amount  of  work  it  was 
cutting  out  for  itself.  No  session  before  or  since  has 
seen  such  a  great  number  of  motions  and  resolutions 
offered  for  consideration,  covering  almost  the  entire 
range  of  human  affairs.  Evidently  the  farmers  were 
alive,  and  the  Grange  had  become  a  militant  force 
which  must  forever  leave  its  impress  upon  eco- 
nomic policies.  The  Grange  was  making  history,  and 
some  of  it  was  sad  enough ;  but  its  ideals  were  high 
and  purposes  exalted.    Full  of  zeal  and  heroic  courage, 


D.  W.  ADAMS'  ADMINISTRATION,  LAST  TWO  YEARS      79 

the  members  of  the  National  Grange  returned  to  their 
homes  with  their  faces  to  the  future.  Farmers  are  slow 
to  move,  but  the  social,  political  and  economic  wrongs 
to  which  they  had  been  subjected  from  time  imme- 
morial had  developed  a  spirit  of  self-preservation 
among  them,  and  through  the  Order  of  Patrons  of 
Husbandry  they  were  developing  a  leadership. 

The  ninth  session  of  the  National  Grange  met  at 
Louisville,  Ky.,  November  17  to  December  2,  1875. 
All  the  officers  were  present  but  G.  W.  Thompson, 
Assistant  Steward,  and  Mortimer  Whitehead  was  ap- 
pointed in  his  place.  Thirty-one  states  were  repre- 
sented, Alabama,  Arkansas,  Maryland,  New  York, 
Nebraska  and  Oregon  were  not  represented,  and  the 
following  changes  were  made:  Connecticut,  Harvey 
and  Mrs.  Godard ;  Indiana,  H.  and  Mrs.  James;  Cali- 
fornia, J.  V.  and  Mrs.  Webster;  Montana,  B.  and  Mrs. 
Reed;  Delaware,  J.  J.  and  Mrs.  Rosa. 

Worthy  Master  D.  W.  Adams,  in  his  "annual  ad- 
dress," called  attention  to  the  fact  that  "in  some  locali- 
ties Granges  have  from  various  causes  languished  and 
died,"  the  high  tide  of  Grange  prosperity,  at  least  in 
point  of  new  Granges,  was  passed,  and  from  that  day 
forward  the  problem  of  dormant  Granges  was  to 
remain  with  the  Order,  notwithstanding  more  than 
2,000  new  Granges  had  been  organized  during  the 
past  year. 

At  the  last  session  of  the  National  Grange  the  office 
of  Secretary  had  been  moved  from  Washington  to 
Louisville,  Ky.,  and  the  Worthy  Master  recommended 
the  building  or  purchase  of  a  permanent  home  for  the 
Order  in  Louisville.  This  change  of  location  did  not 
become  as  permanent  as  it  was  then  believed.  The 
exact  date  of  the  removal  of  the  Secretary's  office  from 
Washington  to  Louisville  is  not  available,  but  the 
final  decision  was  rendered  "at  the  July  meeting 
of  the  Executive  Committee,  1875." 


80  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

In  their  lengthy  report,  the  Executive  Committee 
had  a  good  deal  to  say  upon  the  subject  of  co-operation 
in  buying,  selling  and  manufacturing.  In  a  large 
measure  the  Grange  was  breaking  away  from  its  orig- 
inal purpose  and  magnifying  the  co-operative  and 
money-making  features. 

The  total  receipts  for  the  year  were  $102,143.07,  and 
the  total  expenditures  $95,960.54,  leaving  a  balance  of 
but  $6,182.53.  The  National  Grange  was  beginning  to 
realize  that  it  could  not  afford  the  extravagance  of  the 
last  two  or  three  years,  for  although  the  paid-up  mem- 
bership had  more  than  trebled  since  the  last  report, 
the  annual  dues  were  now  but  5  cents  a  member,  as 
against  the  previous  10  cents,  and  the  number  of  dis- 
pensations granted  had  decreased  more  than  three- 
fourths. 

A  new  set  of  officers  was  about  to  be  elected,  and 
the  Finance  Committee,  to  whom  the  matter  of  salaries 
had  been  referred,  made  a  comprehensive  report  fixing 
salaries  as  follows:  Master,  $1,200  and  expenses; 
Lecturer,  $5  a  day  and  expenses ;  Treasurer,  $600  a  year 
and  expenses ;  Secretary,  $2,000  a  year  and  expenses ; 
members  of  the  Executive  Committee,  $5  a  day  when 
on  business  for  the  Grange.  It  will  be  noticed  that 
this  was  a  decided  cutting  down  of  all  salaries. 

The  terms  of  all  the  officers  had  expired,  and  by 
amendment  to  the  Constitution  the  term  of  office  had 
been  changed  from  three  to  two  years.  The  officers 
were  duly  elected  for  the  term  of  two  years. 

Up  to  this  time  the  National  Grange  had  donated 
to  the  State  Granges  the  sum  of  $86,218.67.  There  is 
no  evidence  that  the  State  Granges  ever  received  any 
benefit  from  this  money,  and  the  folly  of  this  procedure 
soon  became  apparent.  What  became  of  the  money 
no  one  ever  seemed  to  know. 

The  subject  of  co-operation  had  received  a  good  deal 
of  attention,  and  much  time  and  labor  had  been  given 
to  an  effort  to  develop  some  workable  plan.    This  sub- 


D.  W.  ADAMS'  ADMINISTRATION,  LAST  TWO  YEARS      8l 

ject  is  not  a  new  one,  but  has  attracted  more  or  less 
attention  since  the  beginning  of  history,  and  about 
once  in  a  generation  it  flares  up  into  new  prominence 
because  of  some  condition  of  "hard  times,"  some  gen- 
eral depression  in  business,  or  some  oppressive  con- 
ditions which  develop  a  community  of  interest. 

The  Grange  made  its  greatest  growth  during  the 
panic  years  from  1873  to  1876,  which  drove  it  into  a 
nation-wide  attempt  to  counteract  the  cruel  wrongs 
and  oppression  that  agriculture  was  then  laboring 
under,  by  co-operative  protection  of  the  farmers'  com- 
munity interests.  Up  to  this  time  co-operation  had 
been  successful  only  under  special  conditions,  when 
some  community  interest  held  the  co-operators  to- 
gether. The  Grange  made  the  most  gigantic  effort  at 
rural  co-operation  ever  attempted  and  a  detailed  ac- 
count of  its  experience  would  do  much  to  illustrate  the 
literature  of  the  subject. 

What  is  known  as  the  "Rochdale"  plan  of  co-opera- 
tion was  finally  adopted.  This  complicated  system 
seemed  to  work  fairly  well  at  first,  but  it  was  not  long 
before  it  was  discovered  that  for  some  reason  it  was 
breaking  down,  and  that  in  a  great  many  cases  the  ef- 
forts proved  to  be  calamitous  failures,  while  the  losses, 
discouragements  and  bickerings  that  followed  proved 
to  be  the  utter  undoing  of  many  Subordinate  Granges 
and  many  State  Granges  went  down  under  the  pres- 
sure, which  threatened  the  life  of  the  Order  itself. 

The  subject  of  monopolies  received  much  attention 
by  this  session,  and  the  fight  put  up  by  "the  embattled 
farmers"  left  a  legacy  to  the  nation  that  is  worth  many 
times  what  the  Grange  has  cost. 

The  money  question  was  becoming  important 
at  this  time,  for  the  demonetization  of  silver  in  1873 
was  largely  believed  to  be  responsible  for  the  existing 
hard  times.  The  subject  was  much  discussed,  but  no 
definite  action  was  taken. 


82  PATRONS   OF   HUSBANDRY 

A  new  "Court  of  Appeals"  was  created,  to  be  com- 
posed of  D.  W.  Adams,  J.  R.  Thompson  and  John 
Trimble. 

This  was  the  longest  session  of  the  National  Grange 
ever  held,  covering  a  period  of  full  16  days. 


Dudley  \Y.  Adams,  Iowa,  second  Master  National  Grange. 


John    Thompson    Jones,    Arkansas,    third    Master    of    the    Na- 


tional Grange. 


CHAPTER    VII 

John  T.  Jones'  Administration,  Two  Years,  1876-187 7 

— Tenth  and  Eleventh  Sessions  of  the 

National  Grange 

With  a  new  Master  and  a  new  set  of  officers,  the 
work  of  the  year  was  entered  upon  with  renewed  zeal 
and  energy.  Much  attention  was  given  to  the  subject 
of  co-operation.  Major  J.  W.  A.  Wright  was  sent  by 
the  Worthy  Master  as  a  "Commissioner  to  Europe" 
with  a  dual  mission  to  organize  and  establish  Granges 
in  foreign  countries  and  to  investigate  the  English 
Co-operative  Association  and  to  negotiate  some  plan 
of  international  co-operation.  On  his  return  from 
Europe  Major  Wright  prepared  a  report  covering 
many  pages,  which  he  submitted  to  the  next  meeting 
of  the  National  Grange.  Nothing  substantial  ever 
came  of  this  "mission"  across  the  sea.  Mr.  David 
Lubin,  who  was  at  one  time  an  active  member  of  the 
Grange,  may  have  gotten  his  idea  of  the  commission  to 
study  rural  credit  and  co-operation  in  European  coun- 
tries from  Major  Wright's  "mission." 

At  the  close  of  this  year  of  great  Grange  activity  the 
tenth  session  of  the  National  Grange  met  at  Chicago, 
111.,  November  15  to  29,  1876.  All  the  officers  were 
present: 

Master — John  T.  Jones,  Arkansas 

Overseer — J.  J.  Woodman,  Michigan 

Lecturer — A.  B.  Smedley,  Iowa 

Stezvard — A.  J.  Vaughan,  Mississippi 

Assistant  Steward — M.  Whitehead,  New  Jersey 

Chaplain— S.  H.  Ellis,  Ohio 

Treasurer — F.  M.  McDowell,  New  York 

Secretary,  O.  H.  Kelley,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Gatekeeper — O.  Dinwiddie,  Indiana 

Ceres — Mrs.  J.  T.  Jones,  Arkansas 

83 


84  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

Pomona — Mrs.  H.  Godard,  Connecticut 
Flora — Mrs.  S.  E.  Adams,  Minnesota 

Lady  Assistant  Steward — Miss  Carrie  A.  Hall,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Executive  Committee — D.  Wyatt  Aiken,  Dudley  T.  Chase,  E.  R. 
Shankland,  Alonzo  Golder  and  W.  H.  Chambers. 

Thirty  states  were  represented  by  the  following  dele- 
gates: Arkansas,  John  T.  and  Mrs.  Jones;  California, 
J.  V.  Webster;  Colorado,  J.  E.  and  Mrs.  Washburn; 
Connecticut,  H.  and  Mrs.  Godard;  Delaware,  J.  J. 
Rosa;  Georgia,  T.  J.  Smith;  Indiana,  H.  and  Mrs. 
James;  Illinois,  A.  P.  and  Mrs.  Forsyth;  Iowa,  O.  H.  P. 
Buchanon;  Kentucky,  M.  D.  and  Mrs.  Davie;  Louis- 
iana, R.  H.  and  Mrs.  Ryland;  Maine,  Nelson  Ham; 
Maryland,  J.  T.  and  Mrs.  Moore;  Michigan,  J.  J.  and 
Mrs.  Woodman;  Minnesota,  S.  E.  and  Mrs.  Adams; 
Massachusetts,  T.  and  Mrs.  Graves;  Mississippi,  W.  L. 
and  Mrs.  Hemingway;  Missouri,  T.  R.  and  Mrs.  Allen; 
Nebraska,  —  Howe;  New  Hampshire,  D.  T.  and  Mrs. 
Chase;  New  Jersey,  M.  and  Mrs.  Whitehead;  New 
York,  G.  D.  and  Mrs.  Hinckley;  Ohio,  S.  H.  and  Mrs. 
Ellis;  Pennsylvania,  D.  B.  Mauger;  South  Carolina, 
D.  W.  and  Mrs.  Aiken;  Tennessee,  A.  B.  Haynes; 
Texas,  W.  W.  and  Mrs.  Lang;  Virginia,  J.  M.  and  Mrs. 
Blanton;  West  Virginia,  B.  M.  and  Mrs.  Kitchen; 
Wisconsin,  J.  H.  and  Mrs.  Osborn. 

This  was  the  first  session  over  which  John  T.  Jones 
presided  as  Master,  and  considerable  interest  was 
manifested  in  the  new  Master.  Previous  to  this  time 
honorary  members,  Past  Masters  and  officers  had  been 
entitled  to  vote,  but  the  law  had  been  changed  so  as 
to  limit  the  voting  members  to  Masters  of  State 
Granges  and  their  wives. 

The  Worthy  Master's  address  was  unusually  short 
and  largely  devoted  to  the  discussion  of  co-operative 
problems.    By  way  of  justification  he  said: 

"It  may  be  thought  by  some  who  take  a  wholly  sentimental 
view  of  our  organization,  that  I  am  giving  an  undue  prominence 
to  its  material  objects.    If  so,  I  cannot  think  they  have  studied 


JOHN  T.  JONES'  ADMINISTRATION,    1876-1877         85 

the  deep  philosophy,  pure  morality,  lofty  virtue  and  genuine  reli- 
gion that  underlie  co-operative  life.  Rightly  understood,  it  is  the 
poetical  realization  of  Christian  ethics.  The  silent  virtues  of 
temperance,  forethought,  just  dealing,  and  fellowship  in  work, 
will  do  more  to  correct  the  moral  disorders  which  darken  our 
land  and  have  tainted  our  government,  as  well  as  trade  and  com- 
merce, than  all  the  penal  statutes,  that  have  been  or  can  be  de- 
vised. The  material,  social,  moral  and  intellectual  influences  are 
in  near  connection  with  each  other.  The  most  material  things 
have  great  influence  on  mental  subjects,  a  sentiment  that  ages 
ago  the  poet  Homer  gave  vent  to  in  saying  that  'when  man  be- 
comes slave  he  loses  half  his  virtue.' " 

The  Worthy  Master  urged  immediate  action  in  se- 
curing a  building  in  Louisville  for  permanent  head- 
quarters, stating  that  the  funds  available  for  such  pur- 
pose are  being  "rapidly  diminished  by  donations," 
which  was  followed  by  some  pertinent  remarks  upon 
the  subject  of  "donations"  which  had  proved  an  unfortu- 
nate and  demoralizing  policy.  From  this  time  for- 
ward the  policy  of  "donations"  was  discontinued,  but 
not  until  more  than  $100,000  had  been  dissipated  in  one 
way  and  another.  The  Worthy  Master  said :  "While 
we  have  any  considerable  sum  on  hand  urgent  appeals 
will  be  made  for  donations."  Evidently  the  Master 
thought  that  the  "gray  ghost  of  avariciousness"  could 
not  stand  the  sight  of  any  surplus  funds.  If  the  funds 
dissipated  in  "donations"  had  been  invested  in  a  head- 
quarters building  in  Washington,  D.  C,  as  was  many 
times  suggested,  the  property  would  now  be  worth 
many  times  what  it  cost  and  stand  a  monument  to 
Grange  foresight  and  frugality. 

The  report  of  the  Treasurer  shows  the  total  receipts 
for  the  year  from  all  sources,  including  the  sale  of 
United  States  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $6,298.75  and 
$1,500  borrowed  money  paid  back  by  E.  R.  Shankland, 
were  $69,735.65,  and  $66,028.25  was  expended,  an  ex- 
penditure of  $4,091.35  more  than  the  regular  receipts 
for  the  year. 

The  Secretary's  report  is  full  of    interesting    data 


86  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

showing  the  condition  of  the  Order  at  this  time. 
He  says:  "Eight  hundred  and  eighty-five  new 
Granges  have  been  organized  during  the  past 
fiscal  year  and  24,800  since  the  origin  of  the  Order. 
Of  this  number  650  have  surrendered  their  Charters, 
550  have  had  their  Charters  revoked  at  the  Na- 
tional office,  7,000  are  known  to  be  delinquent  in 
payment  of  dues  to  their  respective  State  Granges, 
800  have  consolidated  with  other  Granges,  leaving 
15,000  paying  Subordinate  Granges,  and  a  total  paying 
membership  of  550,000  in  the  United  States." 

"This  shows  an  apparent  diminution  of  numbers 
since  last  year;  but  it  must  be  remembered  we  then 
counted  all,  whether  active  or  dormant,  paying  or  de- 
linquent." "The  Order  is  without  doubt  stronger  than 
it  was  twelve  months  ago."  Whether  Mr.  Kelley's 
conclusion  is  correct  or  not  is  at  least  subject  to  some 
doubt,  but  we  give  his  figures  for  what  they  are  worth. 

The  question  of  establishing  a  "central  wool  and 
tobacco  house"  had  received  a  good  deal  of  considera- 
tion, and  it  was  recommended  that  such  "houses"  be 
established  in  localities  where  demanded.  Later  such 
"houses"  were  established  at  several  points,  but  ulti- 
mately all  of  them  failed  and  in  some  cases,  like  the 
Steubenville,  O.,  "Wool  House,"  a  good  deal  of  money 
was  lost  and  much  harm  was  done  the  Grange  by  such 
failures. 

Strong  resolutions  were  adopted  at  this  session  de- 
manding the  establishment  of  a  national  "Bureau  of 
Commerce."  The  outcome  of  the  agitation  begun  at 
this  time  was  the  creation  of  the  Interstate  Commerce 
Commission  by  Congress  and  the  creation  of  public 
service  commissions,  of  one  kind  and  another,  in  nearly 
all  the  states. 

For  several  years  the  National  Grange  had  de- 
manded the  creation  of  the  office  of  Secretary  of  Agri- 
culture, with  the  idea  of  placing  a  farmer  in  the  Presi- 
dent's Cabinet,  but  at  this  session  the  matter  was  more 


JOHN  T.  JONES'  ADMINISTRATION,    1876-1877         87 

strongly  urged  than  ever  before  in  a  vigorous  set  of 
resolutions  offered  by  Mr.  Davie  of  Kentucky. 

The  Executive  Committee  reported  that  they  had 
"obtained  from  the  General  Assembly  of  the  state  of 
Kentucky  an  act  to  incorporate  the  National  Grange 
of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry."  The  National  Grange 
has  ever  since  done  business  under  this  Charter. 

The  only  election  at  this  session  was  that  of  one 
member  of  the  Executive  Committee,  and  Henley 
James  of  Indiana  was  duly  elected. 

The  "Land  Grant"  or  agricultural  colleges  had  here- 
tofore received  much  attention,  and  the  Committee  on 
Education  recommended  the  appointment  of  "a  Stand- 
ing Committee  of  three  members,  to  be  composed  of 
the  Worthy  Master  and  two  members,  to  be  called  a 
Committee  on  Education,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  in- 
quire into  the  use  made  of  donations  by  Congress  to 
the  several  states,  to  inquire  what  colleges  have  been 
established  under  the  said  act,  etc.,  etc.,  and  report  to 
the  next  session  of  this  body."  This  was  the  begin- 
ning of  a  thorough  investigation  of  our  agricultural 
colleges,  which  turned  much  needed  light  upon  those 
institutions. 

The  following  "essentials"  were  indorsed :  "A  De- 
partment of  Agriculture  in  the  National  Government, 
the  head  of  which  should  be  a  member  of  the  Cabinet; 
the  enactment  of  laws  providing  for  a  reduction  of  the 
legal  rate  of  interest  on  money;  the  enactment  of  laws 
providing  for  the  improvement  of  natural  water  chan- 
nels; for  the  improvement  of  our  patent  laws;  for  the 
security  of  depositors  in  banks ;  for  equal  taxation ;  for 
equitable  regulations  controlling  railroads." 

All  these  subjects  were  to  be  presented  to  Con- 
gress, and  later,  in  one  form  and  another,  they  have 
been  enacted  into  law.  The  salaries  of  all  officers  were 
fixed  the  same  as  the  last  year. 

The  year  1876  was  noted  for  one  of  the  most 
strenuous  presidential  elections  ever  held  in  this  coun- 


88  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

try.  The  minds  of  the  farmers,  as  well  as  of  other 
citizens,  were  distracted  by  the  excitement  of  the  cam- 
paign, which  had  closed  only  a  few  days  before  the 
assembling  of  the  tenth  session  of  the  National  Grange, 
and  this,  no  doubt,  had  much  to  do  with  the  falling  off 
of  Grange  interest  and  growth.  The  result  of  the  elec- 
tion was  claimed  by  both  sides,  and  final  settlement 
was  reached  by  the  famous  eight  to  seven  compromise 
commission  which  decided  in  favor  of  Hayes,  only  a 
day  or  two  before  inauguration.  Because  of  the  un- 
settled condition  existing  up  to  the  inauguration  of 
President  Hayes  the  first  half  of  1877  saw  a  great 
demoralization  of  the  Grange,  with  disintegration 
manifest  on  every  side.  The  political  issues  were 
acute,  and  the  campaign  had  been  waged  with  such 
vigor  that  the  minds  of  the  people  were  diverted  from 
the  great  social  and  economic  questions  that  had  been 
occupying  the  thoughts  of  the  farmers  in  their  splendid 
efforts  to  settle  them  right.  The  fact  that  the  Grange 
passed  safely  through  this  crisis  demonstrated  its  right 
to  live. 

At  the  close  of  this  eventful  year  the  National 
Grange  met  in  eleventh  annual  session  at  Cincinnati,  O., 
November  21  to  30,  1877.  All  the  officers  were 
present.  Twenty-nine  states  were  represented. 
Arkansas,  Georgia,  Iowa,  Louisiana,  Nebraska,  South 
Carolina  and  Tennessee  were  not  represented.  The 
following  changes  were  made :  Alabama,  W.  H.  Cham- 
bers; New  Jersey,  W.  S.  Taylor;  California,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Steele;  North  Carolina,  S.  B.  Alexander;  Dakota, 
P.  and  Mrs.  Chandler;  Oregon,  Wm.  and  Mrs.  Cyrus; 
Kansas,  Wm.  and  Mrs.  Sims;  Pennsylvania,  V.  E. 
Piolett;  Mississippi,  P.  and  Mrs.  Darden;  Vermont, 
A.  B.  and  Mrs.  Franklin ;  Missouri,  H.  and  Mrs.  Esh- 
baugh ;  Wisconsin,  H.  C.  and  Mrs.  Sherwin. 

Worthy  Master  John  T.  Jones  delivered  a  compre- 
hensive annual  address,  from  which  but  two  sentences 
are  quoted :    "At  these  annual  meetings,"  said  he,  "we 


JOHN   T.   JONES'   ADMINISTRATION,    1876-1877  89 

look  back  to  see  what  progress  we  have  made,  and 
carefully  examine  all  parts  of  our  vessel  to  see  that  she 
is  well-found  in  every  respect,  and  fit  to  ride  any  storm 
without  loss  of  rope  or  spar.  The  retrospect  is  full  of 
encouragement  to  us  in  advancing  the  mighty  reforms 
we  have  initiated."  The  tone  of  the  whole  address  is 
hopeful  and  most  of  it  is  devoted  to  the  discussion  of 
co-operative  enterprises  which  had  been  undertaken 
by  the  Grange.  The  co-operative  store  system,  which 
was  widely  in  use  at  that  time,  was  dwelt  upon  at  some 
length.  Already  the  rumblings  of  the  coming  disaster 
were  plainly  discernible.  The  effects  of  the  panic  of 
1873  were  beginning  to  wear  off  and  the  business  of 
the  country  was  assuming  normal  conditions. 

The  Executive  Committee  reported  an  unfortunate 
contract  for  the  purchase  of  a  cultivator  patent,  which 
cost  the  National  Grange  $2,000.  Several  manufactur- 
ing enterprises  were  begun,  but  all  of  them  failed.  The 
Worthy  Lecturer  raised  these  questions :  "Are  the 
farmers  of  this  nation  capable  of  self-government  and 
self-protection?  Do  they  possess  the  requisite  wisdom 
to  enable  them  to  carry  forward  an  organization  whose 
only  aim  and  purpose  is  to  unite  together  the  men  and 
women  of  like  calling,  of  like  interest,  of  like  sympa- 
thies, in  one  great  fraternity  laboring  together  for  the 
common  good?"  A  complete  answer  to  these  questions 
is  the  fact  that  the  Grange  has  continued  to  live  and 
perform  its  splendid  work  for  half  a  century.  It  has 
had  its  discouragements  and  failures,  but  so  has  every 
other  human  institution.  In  concluding,  the  Worthy 
Lecturer  made  a  heroic  appeal  to  the  National  Grange 
to  lay  aside  nonessentials  and  devote  itself  to  the  prac- 
tical questions  so  apparent,  and  especially  to  get  in  real 
sympathy  with  the  real  farmers  who  earn  their  bread 
by  the  sweat  of  their  brow.  The  inference  is  that  the 
National  Grange  had  not  at  all  times  kept  close  enough 
to  the  people  who  till  the  soil  and  feed  the  nation. 

The  report  of  the  Treasurer  developed  some  porten- 


90  PATRONS   OF   HUSBANDRY 

tous  facts.  Receipts  from  all  sources,  $46,901.16, 
which  included  the  sale  of  United  States  bonds  to  the 
amount  of  $12,337.50  and  $3,500  received  from  the 
Nebraska  State  Grange,  borrowed  money  repaid. 
These  two  items  total  $15,837.50,  which,  deducted  from 
the  total  receipts,  leaves  $31,063.66,  while  the  total  ex- 
penditures were  $43,430.48. 

The  necessity  for  retrenchment  was  becoming 
somewhat  urgent,  and  this  fact  was  recognized  in 
fixing  the  officers'  salaries  for  the  next  year  as 
follows:  Master,  $1,000;  Treasurer,  $500;  Secre- 
tary, $1,500;  and  ordered  "that  the  Secretary  be 
made  responsible  for  the  archives  of  the  National 
Grange,  and  that  he  locate  the  office  at  such  place  as 
will  be  most  convenient  for  him."  This  action  aban- 
doned the  "permanent"  headquarters  at  Louisville, 
Ky.,  and  the  office  was  immediately  moved  to  Appa- 
lachicola,  Fla. 

The  Lecturer  was  allowed  $4  a  day  when  employed 
under  the  direction  of  the  Master  and  Executive  Com- 
mittee. The  per  diem  of  the  Executive  Committee  was 
reduced  from  $5  to  $4,  and  the  per  diem  of  delegates  to 
the  National  Grange  was  reduced  from  $5  to  $3. 

As  usual  the  Secretary  had  something  of  interest  to 
say  in  his  report:  "In  1873  we  began  to  attract  much 
prophetic  attention,  and  even  today  some  of  our  news- 
paper friends  assure  us  that  unless  we  adopt  their 
views  this  will  be  the  last  session  of  the  National 
Grange.  Let  me  say  to  you,  'Be  not  afraid.'  The 
Order  is  not  built  upon  whims  and  fancies.  I  have 
faith  to  believe  it  is  already  a  fixed  institution,  bound 
to  exert  a  strong  and  lasting  influence."  The  cheerful 
optimism  of  Secretary  Kelley  is  inspiring,  but  by  this 
time  he  had  reached  the  conclusion  that  "the  American 
farmer  is  a  peculiar  individual." 

While  Secretary  Kelley  was  re-elected  at  this  ses- 
sion, he  resigned  in  the  middle  of  his  term  at  the  next 
session,  and  this  was  his  last  report  to  the  National 


JOHN  T.  JONES'  ADMINISTRATION,    1876-1877         9I 

Grange.  It  contained  many  things  worthy  of  consid- 
eration by  every  friend  of  the  Order,  a  few  of  which 
we  summarize :  Congratulates  the  National  Grange 
on  its  escape  from  "any  of  the  serious  failures  that 
have  taken  place  among  Grange  agents  and  Grange 
enterprises";  keep  the  Order  and  build  it  up  as  an 
association  of  agriculturists;  let  the  education  of  the 
masses  be  the  great  object;  discourage  the  frequent 
changes  in  the  Constitution ;  encourage  industrial 
schools;  recommend  the  teaching  of  agriculture  in  the 
public  schools  (this  is  notable  for  being  the  first 
known  recommendation  of  this  subject)  ;  recommend 
school  gardens;  give  girls  same  opportunities  as  the 
boys;  strongly  advocate  "back  to  the  farm"  move- 
ment; the  establishment  of  courses  of  dime  lec- 
tures in  the  country  (same  idea  as  present  "agricul- 
tural extension")  ;  make  the  educational  and  social 
features  of  the  Grange  paramount  to  all  other  consid- 
erations; make  it  the  aim  of  every  Grange  to  dignify 
agriculture  and  the  farmers. 

The  history  of  the  Grange  demonstrates  the  wis- 
dom of  what  he  advised.  It  was  manifest  that 
the  Grange  ship  was  sinking  from  the  weight  of 
its  own  sordid  materialism,  and  that  it  could  only 
be  saved  from  shipwreck  by  returning  to  the  high 
idealism  of  its  founders.  "The  keel  of  the  Grange  ship 
was  well  laid,"  says  Mr.  Aiken;  "its  majestic  sides 
were  ribbed  by  the  mechanism  of  profound  thought. 
Its  spars,  braced  by  fraternal  cords,  have  never  been 
shattered  by  the  fury  of  the  storm.  Its  sails  are  still 
whole,  and  have  been  whitened  by  the  friction  of  pop- 
ular criticism.  Often  has  it  buoyed  in  turbid  waters. 
Still  oftener  has  it  glided  gracefully  and  triumphantly 
over  the  billows  of  prejudice  that  lashed  so  furiously 
under  its  bow.  Today  it  floats  in  placid  waters.  Its 
haven  has  not  yet  been  reached,  nor  will  it  be  until 
every  farmer  in  the  land  shall  have  received  some  of 
the  benefits  of  its  launching." 


92  PATRONS   OF   HUSBANDRY 

A  resolution  was  adopted  asking  Congress  to  modify 
"the  treaty  with  China  so  as  to  prevent  the  further 
importation  of  Chinamen  into  the  country."  The 
Constitution  was  amended,  reducing  the  initiation  fees 
from  $5  for  men  and  $3  for  women  to  $3  for  men  and 
$1  for  women.  The  officers  for  the  next  biennial  were 
elected. 

The  Constitution  had  been  amended,  reducing  the 
Executive  Committee  from  five  to  three  and  making 
the  Master  an  ex-officio  member.  D.  Wyatt  Aiken, 
South  Carolina,  and  S.  H.  Ellis,  Ohio,  were  elected  for 
two  years,  and  Henley  James,  Indiana,  holding  over. 
The  officers  were  duly  installed  and  a  new  adminis- 
tration began  with  the  close  of  this  session. 


CHAPTER    VIII 

Samuel  E.  Adams'  Administration,  Two  Years,  1878- 

1879 — Twelfth  and  Thirteenth  Sessions  of  the 

National  Grange 

Samuel  E.  Adams  was  the  fourth  Master  of  the 
National  Grange.  Immediately  upon  the  adjourn- 
ment of  the  eleventh  session  he  began  the  work 
of  his  administration.  He  was  confronted  with  a 
critical  condition  in  the  history  of  the  Grange,  but  he 
bravely  took  up  the  responsibility  of  tiding  the  good 
ship  over  the  shoals  of  a  depleted  treasury  and  the 
period  of  reaction  that  had  set  in.  Much  careful  plan- 
ning and  conservative  good  judgment  were  required. 

The  summing  up  of  the  year's  work  may  be  found 
in  the  Journal  of  the  twelfth  annual  session  of  the 
National  Grange  which  met  in  Richmond,  Va.,  Novem- 
ber 20  to  30,  1878,  the  first  session  over  which  Worthy 
Master  Adams  presided.  More  officers  were  absent 
from  this  session  than  ever  before.  The  following 
officers  and  appointees  were  present: 

Master — Samuel  E.  Adams,  Minnesota. 
Overseer — J.  J.  Woodman,  Michigan. 
Lecturer — Mortimer  Whitehead,  New  Jersey. 
Steward — Wm.  Sims,  pro  tern,  Kansas. 

Assistant  Steward — S.  B.  Alexander,  pro  tern,  North  Carolina. 
Chaplain — Henry  Eshbaugh,  pro  tern,  Missouri. 
Treasurer — F.  M.  McDowell,  New  York. 
Secretary — W.  M.  Ireland,  pro  tern,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Gatekeeper — Isaac  Williams,  pro  tern,  Ohio. 
Ceres — Mrs.  S.  E.  Adams,  Minnesota. 
Pomona — Mrs.  J.  J.  Woodman,  Michigan. 
Flora — Mrs.  J.  T.  Moore,  Maryland. 

Lady  Assistant  Steivard — Miss  C.  D.  Palmer,  pro  tern,  Maryland. 
Executive  Committee — D.  Wyatt  Aiken,  South  Carolina;  Henley 
James,  Indiana;  S.  H.  Ellis,  Ohio. 

93 


94  PATRONS  OF  HUSBANDRY 

Twenty-eight  State  Granges  were  represented  by 
the  following  delegates :  Colorado,  Levi  and  Mrs. 
Booth;  Delaware,  J.  J.  and  Mrs.  Rosa;  Florida,  W.  H. 
Wilson;  Georgia,  T.  J.  Smith;  Illinois,  A.  P.  Forsyth; 
Indiana,  H.  and  Mrs.  James ;  Kansas,  William  and  Mrs. 
Sims;  Maine,  D.  Ff.  and  Mrs.  Thing;  Maryland,  J.  T. 
and  Mrs.  Moore;  Massachusetts,  B.  P.  and  Mrs.  Ware; 
Michigan,  J.  J.  and  Mrs.  Woodman;  Minnesota,  S.  E. 
and  Mrs.  Adams;  Missouri,  Henry  Eshbaugh ;  Missis- 
sippi, P.  Darden;  New  Jersey,  J.  W.  and  Mrs.  Nichol- 
son ;  New  York,  W.  G.  and  Mrs.  Wayne ;  New  Hamp- 
shire, D.  T.  and  Mrs.  Chase ;  North  Carolina,  S.  B. 
Alexander;  Ohio,  S.  H.  and  Mrs.  Ellis;  Oregon,  A.  R. 
and  Mrs.  Shipley;  Pennsylvania,  V.  E.  and  Mrs. 
Piolett;  South  Carolina,  J.  N.  and  Mrs.  Lipscomb; 
Texas,  W.  W.  Lang;  Tennessee,  T.  B.  Harwell;  Ver- 
mont, A.  B.  and  Mrs.  Franklin;  Virginia,  J.  M.  and 
Mrs.  Blanton;  West  Virginia,  R.  W.  and  Mrs.  Baylor; 
Wisconsin,  H.  C.  and  Mrs.  Sherwin. 

Secretary  Kelley,  although  he  was  in  the  city,  was 
absent  from  the  session.  Some  friction  had  grown  up 
between  Secretary  Kelley  and  the  National  Grange 
authorities,  involving  chiefly  the  permanent  office  of 
the  Secretary.  In  his  first  annual  address  Worthy 
Master  Samuel  E.  Adams  said : 

"The  adoption  of  the  recommendation  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee by  the  National  Grange  at  the  last  session,  simply  making 
the  Secretary  responsible  for  the  archives  of  the  National  Grange 
and  allowing  him  to  locate  his  office  'at  such  place  as  will  be  most 
convenient  for  him,'  was  in  my  judgment  a  grave  error." 

He  then  says: 

"Today  we  have  an  incubus  binding  and  weighing  upon  the 
National  Grange  till  January  1,  1882,  in  the  shape  of  a  lease  of  a 
building  in  Louisville,  and  we  have  contracted  to  pay  rent  accord- 
ing to  the  terms  of  the  agreement  amounting  to  nearly  $3,000,  for 
which  no  benefit  is  received,  but  yet  we  have  no  headquarters — 
no  home."  He  calls  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  Secretary's 
office  should  be  located  at  some  central  point  so  as  to  be  acces- 
sible   to  the    officers    of    the     National    Grange,    then    asks: 


SAMUEL  E.  ADAMS'  ADMINISTRATION 1878-1879      95 

"Why  should  we  vacate  a  sheltering  tenement  and  subject  our- 
selves to  the  howling  winds  and  pelting  storms  of  the  open  air? 
Wisdom  demands  that  our  steps  be  retraced,  the  present  condition 
of  affairs  be  rectified,  and  such  legislation  be  had  in  this  respect 
as  shall  tend  to  solidify  and  perpetuate  the  organization."  As  a 
climax  to  what  the  Worthy  Master  had  to  say  on  this  subject,  we 
quote  this  sentence:  "If  the  Order  is  dead,  it  would  be  fitting  to 
dig  its  grave,  deposit  its  remains,  and  permit  some  kind  friend 
to  erect  a  suitable  monument  to  mark  its  resting  place;  if  living, 
then  it  should  certainly  have  a  local  habitation  and  a  home,  be  it 
ever  so  homely." 

Agreeing  with  the  Worthy  Master,  the  Executive 
Committee  said : 

"It  is  our  opinion  that  the  migratory  character  of  our  head- 
quarters, and  the  final  leaving  of  the  location  of  the  Secretary's 
office  to  the  whims  of  any  brother  whom  we  may  elect  Secretary, 
has  proven  to  be  a  grand  error,  which  should  be  corrected  at  this 
session." 

After  some  controversy  Secretary  Kelley  tendered 
his  resignation  which  read  as  follows : 

Richmond,  Va.,  Nov.  21,  1878. 
To  the  Worthy  Master  and  Members  of  the  National  Grange: 

On  account  of  the  demands  on  my  time  by  my  private  business, 
I  hereby  respectfully  tender  my  resignation  as  Secretary  of  the 
National  Grange. 

O.  H.  Kelley. 

This  resignation  was  later  accepted.  The  Execu- 
tive Committee  went  over  the  Secretary's  books 
and  reported  a  settlement.  Secretary  Kelley  was 
at  this  time,  and  had  been  for  a  year  or  two,  en- 
gaged in  a  large  development  enterprise  at  Carrabelle, 
Fla.,  which  place  took  its  name  from  the  name  of 
Carrie  Arabelle  Hall,  his  niece,  who  was  so  intimately 
identified  with  him  in  all  his  relations  to  the  Grange. 
While  Carrabelle,  Fla.,  has  grown  to  be  a  place  of 
considerable  importance,  it  is  understood  that  Mr. 
Kelley  lost  considerable  money  in  the  enterprise. 

The  Grange  will  never  cease  to  honor  Oliver  Hudson 
Kelley  as  its  originator  and  most  active  founder,  but 


g6  PATRONS   OF   HUSBANDRY 

it  will  not  undervalue  the  splendid  work  of  his  six 
associates,  who  helped  him  "hew  the  shaft  and  lay  the 
architrave"  of  the  Order. 

W.  M.  Ireland,  one  of  the  "founders"  of  the  Order, 
was  elected  Secretary  to  succeed  Mr.  Kelley,  and  a  res- 
olution was  adopted  "that  the  office  of  Secretary  shall 
be  located  within  the  District  of  Columbia,"  which 
suited  Secretary  Ireland  very  well,  as  he  lived  in 
Washington.  Henley  James  of  Indiana  was  re-elected 
a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee. 

The  Worthy  Master  said  in  his  address: 

"Much  has  been  said,  from  time  to  time,  relative  to  the  dis- 
position made  of  the  funds  of  the  National  Grange.  Curiosity 
has  prompted  me  to  examine  somewhat  into  this  matter,  and  I 
find  there  has  been  paid  back  to  the  several  states  about  $55,000, 
in  the  form  of  loan-donations,  and  for  the  adjustment  of  dues 
and  charitable  purposes  about  $45,000,  making  in  all  $100,000 
which  has  been  returned  to  the  states  from  the  treasury  of  the 
National  Grange. 

"In  past  years  the  expenditures  may  not  in  every  single  in- 
stance appear  warranted  by  prudence  and  wisdom,  still  I  appre- 
hend the  closest  scrutiny  will  fail  to  discover  any  serious  wrong 
or  misappropriation  of  funds.  It  is,  indeed,  fortunate  that  the 
financial  history  will  bear  investigation,  and  not  suffer  from  the 
inquest." 

The  report  of  Treasurer  F.  M.  McDowell  shows  the 
total  receipts  for  the  year  ending  September  30,  1878, 
$24,806.94,  and  the  total  expenditure  $20,188.61,  show- 
ing a  balance  of  $4,618.33.  With  a  view  to  the  further 
reduction  of  expenses,  the  salaries  for  the  ensuing  year 
were  fixed  as  follows :  Master,  $500  and  $4  a  day  when 
away  from  his  office  on  business  of  the  Grange ;  Lec- 
turer, $4  a  day  when  on  duty  for  the  Grange;  Treas- 
urer, $500;  Secretary,  $800.  Necessary  expenses  of 
all  these  officers  when  on  business  for  the  Grange  was 
allowed. 

A  resolution  was  adopted  demanding  more  humane 
treatment  of  live  stock  in  transit  over  the  railroads. 
The  outcome  of  this  agitation  was  the  adoption  of  such 
laws.     Also,  requesting  that  it  be  made  the  duty  of 


SAMUEL  E.  ADAMS*  ADMINISTRATION — 1878-1879      97 

teachers  in  our  public  schools  to  instruct  the  children 
under  their  care  to  protect  insect-eating  birds  and  their 
nests,  and  to  treat  the  lower  animals  kindly. 

It  was  also  demanded  that  the  patent  laws  be  so 
amended  "as  to  protect  innocent  purchasers  in  the  use 
of  any  article  or  implement  manufactured  and  sold  in 
the  market,  making  the  manufacturers  and  sellers 
alone  responsible  for  infringement  of  patent  rights." 
This  was  the  beginning  of  the  famous  Grange  contests 
in  the  courts,  which  resulted  in  a  notable  victory. 

There  has  been  some  controversy  over  the  question 
of  the  beginning  of  the  agitation  for  teaching  agricul- 
ture in  the  public  schools,  which  is  now  so  generally 
adopted.  Secretary  Kelley  had  recommended  this  idea 
one  year  before,  but  the  first  specific  action  taken  by  the 
National  Grange  was  the  adoption  of  a  resolution  on 
November  29,  1878,  offered  by  Mr.  Harwell  of  Tennes- 
see, demanding  the  teaching  of  elementary  agriculture 
in  the  public  schools.  We  have  no  record  of  any  public 
action  upon  this  subject  previous  to  this  time,  thus 
once  more  vindicating  the  Grange's  claim  to  leadership. 

The  Committee  on  Education  declared  "that  agricul- 
ture is  a  science,  and  we  had  as  well  expect  a  correct 
English  composition  without  a  knowledge  of  the  rules 
of  grammar  or  a  skillful  physician  without  even  a 
smattering  knowledge  of  the  principles  of  medical 
science,  as  a  successful  agriculturist  who  is  equally 
ignorant  of  the  principles  which  underlie  his  vocation." 

The  first  record  of  the  appointment  of  a  National 
Grange  Legislative  Committee  was  the  appointment  at 
this  session  of  D.  Wyatt  Aiken  of  South  Carolina  and 
A.  P.  Forsyth  of  Illinois,  both  of  whom  were  members 
of  Congress. 

The  National  Grange  had  now  brought  its  expenses 
within  its  income,  and  the  future  looked  encouraging 
and  the  permanency  of  the  Grange  seemed  assured. 

The  thirteenth  session  of  the  National  Grange  met 


98  PATRONS   OF   HUSBANDRY 

in  Canandaigua,  N.  Y.,  November  19  to  28,  1879,  with 
all  the  officers  except  the  Lady  Assistant  Steward 
present. 

Twenty-nine  states  were  represented  by  the  same 
delegates  as  at  last  session,  except  that  Virginia  was 
not  represented,  while  California  and  Kentucky  were, 
and  changes  in  North  Carolina  and  Ohio  as  follows: 
California,  B.  R.  Spillman ;  Ohio,  J.  H.  and  Mrs.  Brig- 
ham  ;  Kentucky,  W.  J.  Stone ;  North  Carolina,  W.  H. 
and  Mrs.  Cheek. 

Worthy  Master  Samuel  E.  Adams,  in  his  "annual 
address,"  discussed  the  history  of  Grange  attempts  at 
co-operation  very  fully  and  thoughtfully,  reviewing  the 
action  of  the  National  Grange  upon  that  subject  from 
the  first  up  to  that  time.  He  reached  the  conclusion 
that  "one  mistake  has  been  that  too  many  have 
supposed  the  material  or  business  plan  of  the  work  was 
the  end  and  aim  of  the  Order.  The  Grange  is  not  in 
itself  a  business  organization,  but  a  school  of  instruc- 
tion. Pecuniary  advantages  derived  from  co-opera- 
tion in  making  purchases  and  sales  are  the  incidents 
resulting  from  our  organisation." 

After  devoting  pages  to  the  general  discussion,  he 
epitomizes  the  whole  subject  as  it  then  seemed  to  him, 
in  this  way : 

"Local  stores  organized  in  the  interests  of  the  Order  are  in 
successful  operation  all  over  the  country,  saving  money  in  pur- 
chases and  in  sales,  because  the  members  'buy  together  and  sell  to- 
gether.' State  agencies  are  established,  where  the  services  of 
the  ubiquitous  middlemen  are  chiefly  dispensed  with,  orders  for 
merchandise  aggregated,  produce  disposed  of  in  bulk,  and  effi- 
cient aid  and  support  are  rendered  to  tributary  associations.  By 
co-operation  the  products  of  a  state  are  conveyed  to  market 
without  suffering  from  excessive  rates.  By  co-operation  the 
decision  of  the  supreme  tribunal  of  our  country  has  been  ob- 
tained affirming  the  right  of  the  people  to  regulate  through  their 
Legislatures,  to  a  healthful  extent,  the  tariff  imposed  by  trans- 
porting corporations.  By  co-operation  oppressive  local  exac- 
tions have  been  subdued  and  the  burdens  of  general  government 
more  equitably  distributed.     By  co-operation  Aid  Societies  have 


SAMUEL  E.  ADAMS'  ADMINISTRATION — 1878-1879      99 

been  formed  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  so  that  families  of 
deceased  members  reap  the  benefits  resulting  from  real  insur- 
ance, and  are  no  longer  subjected  to  the  losses  and  robbery  of 
bankrupt  societies  and  defrauding  officials.  By  co-operation  the 
Grange  press  is  sustained,  its  subscription  list  is  increased,  its 
usefulness  extended,  information  pertaining  to  our  organization 
imparted,  the  editorial  corps  encouraged  and  paid,  and  the  pro- 
prietors made  jubilant.  By  co-operation  the  Order  of  Patrons 
of  Husbandry  was  instituted,  its  aim  and  purpose  promulgated, 
its  members  strengthened,  enlightened  and  united,  and  by  clear, 
rational  and  comprehensive  views  of  its  principles,  and  by  stern 
adherence  to  its  teachings,  will  success  and  perpetuity  be 
assured." 

These  were  large  claims  for  co-operation,  and  yet  it 
is  only  a  fair  statement  of  what  the  Grange  was  trying 
to  do,  and  was  accomplishing  in  some  measure  at  least. 

From  year  to  year  we  have  included  in  this  history 
the  amount  of  receipts  and  disbursements,  because 
there  is  no  surer  way  to  illustrate  the  true  condition  of 
the  Order,  as  would  be  the  case  with  a  business 
house  or  corporation.  The  falling  off  in  income 
does  not  indicate  an  equal  falling  off  in  membership 
by  any  means.  In  the  early  years  of  the  Order  the 
bulk  of  the  income  was  from  the  Charter  fees  paid  by 
new  Granges.  During  the  year  1874  there  were  organ- 
ized 11,941  Subordinate  Granges,  while  during  the  year 
1879  there  were  but  17  organized. 

The  Treasurer's  report  for  the  fiscal  year  ending 
September  30,  1879,  gave  the  tota*  receipts  as  $20,249.04 
and  the  total  expenditures  as  $18,899.82,  leaving  a 
balance  of  $1,349.22.  Of  the  earlier  accumulations 
there  was  still  $45,000  invested  in  United  States  bonds. 

The  Executive  Committee  said :  "One  year  ago  your 
Executive  Committee  reported  our  organization  lan- 
guishing in  many  of  the  states.  Today  they  feel  appre- 
hensive that  unless  the  tide  be  turned  the  requiem  of 
our  Order  will  have  been  sung  in  more  states  than  one 
before  this  body  shall  again  assemble." 

In  order  to  bring  the  expenditures  within  the  income, 
the  salaries  of  the  officers  were  still  further  scaled  down, 


100  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

as  follows :  Master,  $500  and  necessary  expenses  ;  Treas- 
urer, $300  and  expenses ;  Secretary,  $600 ;  Lecturer,  $4  a 
day  when  employed  under  direction  of  the  National 
Grange  or  Executive  Committee.  Compensation  of 
Executive  Committee  $3  a  day  and  expenses ;  the 
per  diem  of  members  of  the  National  Grange  was  re- 
duced to  $3. 

A  resolution  was  adopted  providing  "that  a  special 
committee  of  five  be  raised  who  shall  take  into  con- 
sideration the  state  and  condition  of  American  agri- 
culture, and  to  report  such  measures  and  policies  as, 
in  their  judgment,  will  tend  to  afford  relief  from  the 
weights,  hindrances  and  difficulties  that  now  beset  it, 
and  to  suggest  such  methods  as  will  restore  to  Ameri- 
can farmers  greater  prosperity  and  promote  their  polit- 
ical and  material  welfare."  This  resolution  involves 
the  whole  idea  of  the  "Rural  Life  Commission"  later 
appointed  by  President  Roosevelt,  once  more  dem- 
onstrating the  leadership  of  the  Grange. 

Resolutions  were  adopted  "asking  Congress  to  enact 
a  law  creating  a  National  Board  of  Control,  invested 
with  full  power  to  fix  and  regulate  the  freight  rates 
which  may  be  charged  by  railroad  companies  and  other 
corporations  engaged  in  interstate  commerce."  This 
was  the  beginning  of  the  agitation  that  finally  resulted 
in  the  creation  of  the  "Interstate  Commerce  Commis- 
sion," which  has  always  been  classed  as  a  Grange  vic- 
tory. The  teaching  of  agriculture  in  the  public  schools 
was  again  indorsed,  and  the  compulsory  attendance  of 
children  recommended,  a  pioneer  action  on  the  last 
proposition. 

The  following  Grange  platform  was  promulgated : 
"Stirred  with  a  just  sense  of  right  and  supported  by 
the  integrity  of  our  purpose,  the  National  Grange  of 
the  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  in  the  name  and  interest 
of  the  farmers  of  the  United  States,  strongly  demands  : 

1.  That  the  Department  of  Agriculture  shall  be  made  an 
Executive  Department,  and  the  Commissioner  a  Cabinet  officer, 


Jonathan    J.    Woodman,    Michigan,    fifth    Master    of    the    Na- 
tional Grange. 


Samuel    Emory    Adams,    Minnesota,    fourth    Master    of    the 

National  Grange. 


SAMUEL  E.  ADAMS'  ADMINISTRATION — 1878-1879    IOI 

2.  That  the  agricultural  department  shall  be  sustained  and  sup- 
ported by  annual  appropriations  commensurate  with  the  im- 
portance of  the  great  and  permanent  industry  it  represents. 

3.  That  commercial  treaties  shall  be  made  with  all  foreign 
countries,  giving  to  American  products  equal  and  unrestricted 
intercourse  with  the  markets  of  the  world. 

4.  That  governments  be  administered  in  a  cheaper  and  simpler 
manner,  consonant  with  the  conditions  of  the  people. 

5.  That  a  more  rigid  economy  in  the  expenditures  of  public 
moneys  be  established. 

6.  That  the  laws  shall  be  plain  and  simple  to  the  end  that  jus- 
tice shall  be  speedy,  crime  punished  and  good  government  main- 
tained. 

7.  That  the  creation  or  allowing  of  monopolies  to  exist  is  in 
violation  of  the  spirit  and  genius  of  free  republican  government. 

8.  That  the  tariffs  of  freights  and  fare  over  railroads  and  all 
transportation  companies  shall  be  regulated,  and  all  unjust  dis- 
criminations inhibited  by  law. 

9.  That  taxation  shall  be  equal  and  uniform  and  all  values 
made  to  contribute  their  just  proportion  of  the  support  of  the 
government. 

10.  That  the  revenue  laws  of  the  United  States  shall  be  so  ad- 
justed as  to  bear  equally  upon  all  classes  of  property  to  the  end 
that  agriculture  shall  be  relieved  of  the  disproportion  of  burdens 
it  bears. 

11.  That  the  patent  laws  of  the  United  States  be  so  revised 
that  innocent  purchasers  shall  be  protected  and  fraudulent  ven- 
dors alone  held  responsible  for  infringements  of  rights  and  in- 
fringements of  law. 

12.  That  a  system  of  elementary  agricultural  education  shall  be 
adopted  in  the  common  schools  of  the  country. 

13.  That  we  are  entitled  to  and  should  have  a  fair  representa- 
tion in  the  legislative  halls  of  the  country  chosen  from  the  ranks 
of  the  farmers. 


CHAPTER    IX 

J.  J.  Woodman's    Administration,    First  Term,   Two 

Years,  1 880-1881 — Fourteenth  and  Fifteenth 

Sessions  of  the  National  Grange 

Immediately  upon  the  close  of  the  thirteenth  session 
of  the  National  Grange  Worthy  Master  Woodman  took 
up  the  discouraging  work  before  him  with  great 
energy.  The  growing  impression  was  that  the  Grange 
was  going  the  way  of  all  other  efforts  to  organize  the 
farmers.  About  this  time  the  statement  was  made  in 
"The  Story  of  Labor"  that  "agricultural  guilds  have 
never  in  the  history  of  the  world  scored  a  continuous 
success.  We  have  seen  one  of  the  most  promising 
experiments  in  this  direction  flourish  and  fall  in  the 
Granger  organizations.  There  cannot,  in  our  condi- 
tion of  society,  be  formed  successful  trade  unions  of 
farm  workers.  All  of  the  circumstances  are  against 
them."  That  would  probably  have  been  true  had  not 
the  Grange  been  more  than  a  trade  union.  Discour- 
agement confronted  the  new  Master  and  his  official 
associates  in  every  direction.  Many  Subordinate 
Granges  were  becoming  dormant,  and  here  and  there 
a  State  Grange  was  dropping  out.  The  most  rigid 
economy  was  necessary  to  keep  the  National  Grange 
above  the  financial  flood. 

Notwithstanding  all  this  the  work  of  the  year  was 
courageously  entered  upon,  and  every  effort  centered 
upon  a  determined  purpose  to  stem  the  tide  of  disinte- 
gation  and  reach  solid  ground  where  a  new  foundation 
could  be  laid  upon  which  to  build  a  more  enduring 
structure.  Some  progress  had  been  made  when  the 
fourteenth  annual  session  of  the  National  Grange  met 
at  Washington,  D.  C.,  November  17  to  27,  1880. 

The  officers  elected  at  the  preceding  session  were  all 
present : 

102 


j.  j.  woodman's  administration — 1880-1881     103 

Master—].  J.  Woodman,  Michigan. 
Overseer— Put  Darden,  Mississippi. 
Lecturer — Henry  Eshbaugh,  Missouri. 
Steward— A.  J.  Vaughan,  Tennessee. 
Assistant  Steward — Wm.  Sims,  Kansas. 
Chaplain— S.  H.  Ellis,  Ohio. 
Treasurer— ¥.  M.  McDowell,  New  York. 
Secretary — W.  M.  Ireland,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Gatekeeper — Oscar  Dinwiddie,  Indiana. 
Ceres— Mrs.  H.  H.  Woodman,  Michigan. 
Pomona— Mrs.  Mary  L.  Darden,  Mississippi. 
Flora — Mrs.  E.  M.  Nicholson,  New  Jersey. 
Lady  Assistant  Steward — Mrs.  H.  A.  Sims,  Kansas. 
Executive  Committee — D.  Wyatt  Aiken,  Henley  James  and  W.  G. 
Wayne. 

Thirty  states  were  represented  by  the  following  dele- 
gates :  California,  B.  R.  and  Mrs.  Spillman ;  Colorado, 
Levi  and  Mrs.  Booth;  Delaware,  J.  J.  and  Mrs.  Rosa; 
Florida,  W.  H.  and  Mrs.  Wilson;  Georgia,  T.  J.  and 
Mrs.  Smith;  Illinois,  A.  P.  and  Mrs.  Forsyth;  Indiana, 
Aaron  and  Mrs.  Jones;  Iowa,  D.  W.  Jones;  Kansas, 
William  Sims;  Kentucky,  A.  B.  and  Mrs.  Smith  ;  Mary- 
land, H.  O.  Devries;  Massachusetts,  J.  and  Mrs. 
Draper;  Maine,  D.  H.  and  Mrs.  Thing;  Michigan,  J.J. 
and  Mrs.  Woodman;  Minnesota,  S.  E.  and  Mrs. 
Adams;  Mississippi,  P.  and  Mrs.  Darden;  Missouri, 
H.  and  Mrs.  Eshbaugh;  New  Hampshire,  G.  A.  and 
Mrs.  Wason;  New  Jersey,  J.  W.  and  Mrs.  Nicholson; 
New  York,  W.  A.  Armstrong;  North  Carolina,  W.  Ff. 
and  Mrs.  Cheek;  Ohio,  J.  H.  and  Mrs.  Brigham;  Ore- 
gon, R.  P.  and  Mrs.  Boise;  Pennsylvania,  V.  E.  Piolett; 
South  Carolina,  J.  N.  Lipscomb ;  Tennessee,  T.  B. 
Harwell ;  Vermont,  A.  B.  and  Mrs.  Franklin  ;  Virginia, 
J.  M.  and  Mrs.  Blanton ;  West  Virginia,  R.  W.  and 
Mrs.  Baylor;  Wisconsin,  C.  D.  and  Mrs.  Parker. 

All  the  "founders  of  the  Order"  except  Mr. 
Kelley  were  present.  Following  the  opening  cere- 
monies the  Worthy  Master  introduced  Hon.  William 
Saunders,  first  Master  of  the  National  Grange,  and  one 
of  the  "seven  founders,"  who  delivered    a   long   and 


104  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

interesting  address  dealing  mainly  with  the  early 
history  of  the  Order.  The  whole  address  is  bristling 
with  points  of  historic  interest. 

It  has  been  said  without  sufficient  authority  that  Mr. 
Saunders  severed  all  active  connection  with  the 
Grange  when  it  moved  the  headquarters  to  Louisville, 
Ky.  In  this  notable  address,  he  said:  "We  have 
waited  patiently  the  course  of  events  which  would 
enable  us  once  more  to  greet  the  National  Grange  at 
the  home  of  its  childhood.  We  regretted  its  departure 
and  have  refused  to  be  comforted.  Our  staying  hope 
has  been  that  it  would  sooner  or  later  see  the  error 
of  its  way  and  endeavor  to  regain  the  prestige  it  had 
lost  by  the  action.  We  do  not  know  whether  or  not 
that  time  has  come,  but  we  do  know  that  if  ever  the 
Order  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry  fulfills  the  objects  of 
its  originally  proposed  missions  the  National  Grange 
must  again  assert  its  original  position  in  the  frame- 
work of  the  organization. 

"The  Founders  of  the  Order  never  entertained  the 
idea  of  a  probability  that  the  National  Grange  would, 
at  any  time,  consider  it  necessary  to  change  its  original 
location.  The  very  nature  of  the  organization  seemed 
to  them  to  preclude  the  possibility  of  any  change  in 
that  respect.  It  appeared  to  them  that  the  National 
Grange  would  always  be  found  at  the  National  Capitol, 
and  I  can  assure  you  that  all  impediments  and  draw- 
backs which  we  have  encountered  seemed  trivial  and 
inconsiderable  in  comparison  with  the  shock  which 
startled  me  when  I  first  learned,  at  the  seventh  session 
in  St.  Louis,  that  the  removal  of  the  headquarters  of 
the  National  Grange  was  a  matter  under  consideration. 
As  a  member  of  a  committee  appointed  to  consider 
and  report  on  the  question  I  did  not  hesitate  to  state 
my  opinion  that  such  removal  would  greatly  impair 
the  usefulness  of  the  National  Grange  and  prove  to  be 
injurious,  if  not  disastrous,  to  the  best  interests  of  the 
Order,  and  I  had  reason  to  believe  that  my  earnest  ap- 


j.  j.  woodman's  administration — 1880-1881     105 

peals  in  behalf  of  the  Order  prevented  further  action 
on  the  matter  at  that  time.  But  all  appeals  were  ulti- 
mately of  no  avail,  and  the  Grange,  at  the  following 
session,  consummated  action  which  led  to  the  removal 
of  the  National  Grange,  a  proceeding  which  has  not, 
on  the  whole,  benefited  the  Order." 

Worthy  Overseer  P.  Darden  of  Mississippi  replied 
to  the  address  of  Past  Master  Saunders  in  a  happy 
manner.  Said  he :  "No  higher  compliment  can  be  paid 
you,  the  founders  of  this  Order,  than  to  point  to  the 
splendid  results  already  accomplished  by  your  follow- 
ers. You  have  done  much  to  liberate  the  minds  of  the 
farmers  from  the  shackles  of  party  spirit  and  to  fix 
them  upon  the  good  of  the  country  and  the  develop- 
ment of  its  national  prosperity.  While  much  has  been 
done,  much  still  remains  undone.  Having  passed  the 
dangerous  period  of  organization,  we  feel  that  we  can 
safely  say  that  henceforth  our  course  will  be  onward 
and  upward  to  the  accomplishment  of  still  greater 
victories.  With  the  significant  words  of  education, 
agitation  and  co-operation  emblazoned  on  our  banners 
we  will  never  cease  the  struggle  until  justice  and 
equality  are  secured  to  our  class,  and  the  husbandmen 
become  the  'true  nobility  of  the  land.' " 

These  were  brave  words,  but  the  battle  has  been 
longer  than  the  orator  probably  imagined  it  would  be. 
It  is  still  on  and  the  conflict  is  irrepressible.  J.  R. 
Thompson,  also  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Order, 
speaking  on  this  occasion  said:  "It  will  always  be 
with  me,  and  I  doubt  not  that  the  sentiment  is  shared 
by  my  associates  in  the  work,  a  cheering  and  sustain- 
ing reflection  that,  however  short  our  other  aspirations 
may  have  fallen  of  fulfillment,  and  however  fruitless 
our  other  efforts  through  life  have  been,  our  work  in 
giving  the  Grange  to  the  world  has  conferred  benefits 
upon  humanity  which  warrant  the  belief  that  we  have 
not  lived  in  vain."  Referring  to  the  founding  of  the 
Order  he  said : 


106  PATRONS  OF  HUSBANDRY 

"The  founders  wrought  for  nearly  five  years  with  slight  en- 
couragement of  success,  but  against  indifference,  opposition  and 
discouragement,  with  a  faith  that  never  faltered  and  a  patience 
that  never  tired,  contributing  oftentimes  of  their  ill-spared  means, 
they  worked  on,  believing  that  the  necessities  of  American  agri- 
culture demanded  the  existence  of  the  Order,  and  that  the  times 
were  propitious  for  its  introduction.  They  were  not  discouraged 
for  want  of  progress,  for  they  realized  that 

"  'Heaven  is  not  reached  by  a  single  bound, 

We  must  build  the  ladder  by  which  we  rise 
From  the  lowly  earth  to  the  vaulted  skies 
And  mount  to  its  summit  round  by  round.' " 

With  a  happy  reference  to  the  parable  of  the  sower 
and  the  seed  and  a  reference  to  the  seen  and  unseen 
difficulties,  he  goes  on  to  say : 

"As  a  mountain  climber  with  every  step  of  upward  and  onward 
progress  sees  the  horizon  expanding  around  him,  so  may  the 
Order  in  its  onward  progress  discover  new  fields  and  spheres  of 
usefulness.  I  trust  it  may  be  so,  and  whatever  they  may  be,  I 
believe  that  it  will  be  ever  equal  to  its  occasion.  I  have  an  un- 
shaken faith,  an  undoubting  hope  and  an  abiding  confidence  in 
its  future.  It  has  come  into  the  world  to  brighten,  to  bless,  and 
to  stay.  Though  we  grow  faint  or  faithless,  weak  or  weary,  the 
principles  upon  which  it  is  founded  can  never  die.  When  the 
memorial  tree  shall  cast  its  grateful  shade  upon  our  resting  place, 
other  heads  and  hearts  and  hands  will  continue  our  work  until  the 
final  harvest.  I  believe  the  Grange  will  outlast  and  outlive  us  all — 

"  'Knowing  this  that  never  yet 
Share  of  truth  in  vain  was  set 

In  the  world's  wide  fallow. 
Other  hands  may  sow  the  seed 
Other  hands  o'er  hill  and  mead 

Will  reap  the  harvest  yellow.'  " 

Some  have  said :  "They  builded  better  than  they 
knew,"  but  one  is  inclined  to  agree  with  Mr.  Saunders 
when  he  says :  "The  facts  were  that  we  were  'building 
better  than  they  knew.'  " 

Following  these  general  exercises  Worthy  Master 
J.  J.  Woodman  delivered  his  first  "annual  address." 
After  dealing  at  some  length  with  the  history  of  the 
Order  and  its  past  rapid  growth  he  said: 


j.  j.  woodman's  administration — 1880- 188 1     107 

"A  reaction  was  inevitable.  A  great  brotherhood  organized  for 
the  education  and  elevation  of  a  class  could  not  live  and  accom- 
plish its  mission  without  system,  discipline  and  united  action. 
The  Order  must  pass  through  an  ordeal,  in  reorganizing  and  con- 
solidating Granges,  enforcing  discipline  and  systematizing  its 
work,  that  would  reveal  its  weakness  and  inefficiency  or  demon- 
strate the  correctness  of  its  principles  and  establish  its  strength 
and  perpetuity.  Through  that  crisis  we  have  passed,  though  some- 
what depleted  in  numbers,  yet  better  organized,  better  disciplined, 
and  better  prepared  to  make  the  principles  of  our  Order  under- 
stood and  appreciated.  There  can  be  no  better  evidence  of  the 
vitality  of  our  organization  and  the  value  of  its  principles  than  is 
to  be  found  in  the  fact  that  under  such  circumstances  so  many 
Granges  have  lived  and  prospered  and  that  so  many  intelligent 
and  high-minded  men  and  women  all  over  our  land  are  still  labor- 
ing in  its  ranks,  and  advocating  its  principles." 

He  went  on  to  say :  "For  this  great  work  of  educat- 
ing and  elevating  the  agricultural  classes  of  this  coun- 
try, and  to  save  them  from  the  impending  fate  that  has 
befallen  the  agricultural  classes  of  the  old  world,  was 
our  Order  created ;  and  its  future  prosperity  will  de- 
pend largely  upon  the  legislation  of  this  body  in  con- 
nection with  that  of  the  several  State  Granges." 

After  discussing  a  number  of  topics  of  interest  to 
the  Order  only  he  had  this  to  say  of  a  subject  upon 
which  the  Grange  was  taking  a  lively  interest  at  that 
time :  "The  recent  establishment  of  experiment  sta- 
tions and  agricultural  colleges  in  some  of  the  states, 
and  the  growing  popularity  of  the  agricultural  colleges, 
heretofore  established,  is  another  sign  of  progress,  and 
indicates  that  the  good  seed  which  has  been  sown  is 
becoming  fruit.  Let  us  continue  to  sow  the  seed,  in 
full  faith  that  we  may  hereafter  reap  an  abundant 
harvest." 

Like  Banquo's  ghost,  the  subject  of  monopolies,  cor- 
porations and  transportation  companies,  would  not 
down.  Quoting  the  "Declaration  of  Purposes,"  the 
Worthy  Master  said :  "We  are  not  enemies  of  rail- 
roads or  of  any  corporation  that  will  advance  our  in- 
dustrial interests.  .  .  .  We  are  not  enemies  to  capital, 
but  we  oppose  the  tyranny  of  monopolies,  and  such 


108  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

spirit  and  management  of  any  corporation  or  enter- 
prise as  tends  to  oppress  the  people  and  rob  them  of 
their  just  profits." 

"This  is  the  most  important  question  of  public 
policy,"  said  he,  "that  now  agitates  the  minds  of  the 
people.  That  our  efforts  to  enlighten  public  sentiment 
upon  the  unjust  discrimination  made  by  transportation 
companies,  and  to  induce  Congress  to  regulate  inter- 
state commerce  by  National  Legislation,  so  as  to  pro- 
tect the  industrial  interest  from  unjust  extortions, 
were  based  upon  well-grounded  causes,"  he  cited  a 
number  of  specific  cases.  Quoting  from  Horace  Gree- 
ley, he  said :  "I  can  see  no  reason  for  doubt  that  the 
same  power  which  sufficed  to  give  the  farmers'  houses 
and  lands  to  a  company  at  a  price  virtually  fixed  by 
the  state  will  insure  the  farmers  the  right  to  use  that 
railroad  at  prices  likewise  fixed  by  the  state."  The  doctrine 
was  surely  sound.  Following  a  lengthy  and  enlightening 
discussion  of  railroad  problems  he  declared :  "We 
have  assumed  the  aggressive,  and  let  no  backward  step 
be  taken" ;  and  in  concluding  this  discussion,  he  said : 
"The  conflict  is  upon  us,  and  every  member  is  expected 
to  do  his  whole  duty.  It  remains  to  be  seen  whether 
this  country  is  to  be  controlled  by  the  rapacious  rail- 
road transportation  companies,  managed  by  a  few  men 
'who  recognize  no  responsibility  except  to  their  stock- 
holders, and  no  principle  of  action  except  personal  and 
corporate  aggrandizement,' or  by  the  sovereign  people." 

The  Worthy  Lecturer  brought  the  encouraging  word 
that :  "The  effort  made  by  the  National  Grange  at  its 
session  last  year  to  secure  legislation  on  the  subject  of 
transportation  and  patent  rights  has  been  a  great  stim- 
ulus to  the  Order  in  many  sections  of  the  country,  the 
members  realizing  the  fact  that  it  was  in  the  direction 
that  carried  with  it  a  hope  for  relief.  It  has  inspired 
new  courage,  more  perseverance  and  greater  co- 
operative effort  in  the  good  work  so  well  begun." 

Bearing   upon    this    same,    and    at   that    time    all- 


j.  j.  woodman's  administration — 1880-1881     109 

important  subject,  it  was  resolved  "that  we  demand 
that  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  investigate  our 
grievances,  and  so  legislate  in  the  interest  of  interstate 
commerce  that  transportation  companies  shall  be 
placed  under  the  control  of  the  government,  and  the 
tariff  on  freight  be  so  regulated  by  law  that  positive 
protection  to  the  producers  may  be  furnished  in  the 
future,  and  they  be  exempted  from  the  extortion  so 
long  and  so  patiently  borne."  All  this  demonstrates 
the  persistency  with  which  the  Grange  stuck  to  what 
it  believed  to  be  right. 

Much  of  the  time  of  this  session  was  taken  up  with 
the  consideration  of  proposed  Constitutional  amend- 
ments and  plans  for  strengthening  the  Order.  The  re- 
port of  the  Treasurer  showed  the  total  receipts  to  be 
$15,200.78,  which  included  a  sale  of  government  bonds 
to  the  amount  of  $3,701.35,  with  total  expenditures  of 
$13,736.47,  leaving  a  balance  of  $1,464.31.  The  Secre- 
tary reported  that  "during  the  previous  year  but  17 
new  Granges  were  organized,  while  during  the  year 
just  closed  the  number  reached  44."  And  during  the 
same  time  it  is  fair  to  assume  that  a  good  many  dor- 
mant Granges  had  been  reorganized.  The  indications 
were  that  the  wheels  of  disintegration  were  having  the 
brakes  thrown  on  them  hard. 

A  "Committee  on  Memorializing  Congress  on  the 
Subject  of  the  Cattle  Plague"  was  appointed.  This 
was  the  beginning  of  what  has  grown  to  be  the  large 
and  important  "Bureau  of  Animal  Husbandry"  in  the 
Department  of  Agriculture. 

Again  it  was  demanded  that  the  Commissioner  of 
Agriculture  be  made  a  Secretary  of  Agriculture  and 
be  made  a  member  of  the  President's  Cabinet.  The 
Reagan  Interstate  Commerce  Bill  was  indorsed.  Able 
and  vigorous  committee  reports  were  made  covering 
the  whole  field  of  agricultural  and  Grange  activities, 
indicating  that  the  Grange  had,  indeed,  become  a 
school    of    economics    and    sociology    and     that     its 


110  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

thoughtful  membership  was  rising  to  a  far-seeing  and 
wholesome  statesmanship. 

The  only  election  at  this  session  was  that  of  Henley 
James  of  Indiana  to  succeed  himself  on  the  Executive 
Committee.  For  the  first  time  the  National  Grange 
declared  in  favor  of  a  graduated  income  tax,  and  that 
"we  cannot  urge  with  too  much  force  the  supreme 
importance  of  suitable  representation  for  agriculture 
in  the  law-making  bodies  wherein  its  interests  are 
necessarily  involved.  Such  representation  cannot  be 
had  through  the  selection  of  men  ignorant  of  its  neces- 
sities. They  must  be  in  fair  proportion,  at  least,  se- 
lected from  the  body  whose  interests  are  committed 
to  their  keeping."  This  reasoning  is  clearly  just,  but 
the  "proportion"  has  steadily  grown  less  and  less,  until 
it  has  almost  entirely  disappeared  from  the  National 
Congress  and  is  a  disappearing  quantity  in  most  State 
Legislatures. 

The  salaries  for  the  ensuing  year  were  fixed  at  the 
same  amount  as  the  preceding  year,  except  that  the 
Secretary  was  given  $800  instead  of  $600. 

The  fourteenth  session  came  to  a  close  with  a  spirit 
of  hopefulness  pervading  the  members,  and  the  work 
of  the  next  year  was  taken  up  with  renewed  vigor  and 
prosecuted  with  constructive  discretion. 

The  fifteenth  session  met  in  the  city  of  Washington 
November  16  to  26,  1881,  this  being  the  first  time  the 
National  Grange  had  held  two  consecutive  sessions  in 
the  same  city.  All  the  officers  were  present.  All  the 
Founders  but  Mr.  Kelley  were  again  present. 

Twenty-nine  states  were  represented,  by  the  same 
delegates  as  at  the  last  session,  except  that  Colorado, 
Georgia,  Indiana  and  Oregon  were  not  represented, 
and  the  following  changes  were  made:  Alabama,  B. 
C.  Harrison ;  Minnesota,  T.  T.  and  Mrs.  Smith ;  Arkan- 
sas, J.  C.  Scott;  Pennsylvania,  L.  and  Mrs.  Rhone; 
California,  D.  and  Mrs.  Flint;  Texas,  A.  J.  and  Mrs. 
Rose;  Michigan,  C.  G.  Luce. 


j.  j.  woodman's  administration — 1880-1881     III 

Worthy  Master  Woodman  delivered  a  strong  ad- 
dress dealing  with  many  matters  of  passing  interest 
to  the  Grange  and  the  farmers  of  the  country. 
As  we  have  seen,  the  National  Grange  had  re- 
peatedly demanded  the  elevation  of  the  head  of  the 
Department  of  Agriculture  to  a  Cabinet  position. 
A  bill  to  that  effect  had  been  pending  in  Congress  for 
some  time.  Worthy  Master  Woodman  said  that  the 
bill  had  met  with  serious  opposition  from  the  chair- 
man of  the  committee  on  agriculture,  yet  a  majority 
of  the  committee  reported  it  favorably,  and  placed  it 
in  charge  of  Mr.  Aiken,  who  was  a  member  of  the 
committee. 

By  his  perseverance  he  succeeded  in  pressing  it  to  a 
final  vote,  and  162  members  voted  for  it  and  84  against 
it,  lacking  but  two  votes  of  the  necessary  two-thirds 
required  to  pass  it.  Many  of  those  who  opposed  it 
did  so  on  the  ground  that  the  new  department  should 
include  commerce,  labor,  railroads  and  other  things. 
"With  that  done,"  said  Mr.  Reagan,  "its  great  agricul- 
tural interests,  its  commercial  interests,  its  great  man- 
ufacturing interests,  its  great  mining  interests,  would 
receive  the  supervision  and  direction  of  a  first-class 
man  and  undoubtedly  they  deserve  the  services  of  such 
a  man." 

The  Worthy  Master  saw  in  this  "the  policy 
which  we  may  expect  to  incorporate  into  a  bill  to 
answer  the  demands  of  the  agricultural  interests 
of  the  country,  as  indicated  by  the  resolution  adopted 
by  this  body.  Would  not  such  a  course  be  in  harmony 
with  much  of  the  previous  legislation  of  the  country, 
ostensibly  to  benefit  agriculture,  but  really  to  aid  and 
build  up  other  interests  at  the  expense  of  agriculture, 
and  fasten  upon  the  country  some  of  the  most  oppres- 
sive monopolies  that  ever  cursed  any  people? 

"Passing  over  the  inference  that  an  agricultural 
department  could  not  stand  upon  its  own  bottom, 
could  not  'be  presided  over  by  a  first-class  man,'  and 


112  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

admitting  that  a  department  for  the  further  protection 
of  the  combined  and  incorporated  interests  with  agri- 
culture attached  as  a  'side  show'  could  be,  is  anyone 
credulous  enough  to  believe,  in  view  of  the  history  of 
the  past  and  the  influences  which  generally  control 
such  appointments,  that  such  a  department  would  ever 
be  presided  over  by  one  either  qualified  or  disposed  to 
give  agriculture  the  consideration  which  its  importance 
demands?  Might  we  not  rather  expect  a  repetition  of 
that  policy  which  ignores  the  representatives  of  the 
farming  interests  in  Congress  and  selects  a  chairman 
of  the  Committee  on  Agriculture  from  the  legal  pro- 
fession of  a  large  city  where  agriculture  is  not  supposed 
to  be  extensively  practiced  or  well  understood?"  It 
may  be  remarked  here  that  this  is  not  the  only  time  the 
same  thing  has  occurred,  nor  have  the  real  farmers 
been  always  represented  in  the  Department  of 
Agriculture. 

Mr.  Covert,  the  chairman  referred  to  above,  strongly 
opposed  the  bill.  His  remarks  are  hardly  worthy  of 
the  head  of  the  Congressional  Committee  on  Agricul- 
ture ;  but  upon  the  Constitutional  question  he  declared 
that  "there  was  simply  no  warrant  in  the  Constitution 
for  the  so-called  elevation  of  the  Department  of  Agri- 
culture, or  even  for  the  establishment  or  existence  of 
the  department  as  it  stands  today,"  and  that  "the  de- 
partment as  it  stands  today  is  an  illegitimate  child  of 
the  government,"  deserving  support  only  "during  its 
infancy"  or  while  the  act  creating  it  "remains  unre- 
pealed." 

To  this  Congressman  Hatch  of  Missouri,  author  of 
the  Hatch  Experiment  Station  Law,  replied :  "If  this 
department  is  an  illegitimate  child,  then,  in  the  name 
of  the  great  agricultural  interests  of  the  country,  let 
the  forty-sixth  Congress  of  the  United  States  do  today 
the  greatest  act  of  its  official  life,  and  legitimatize  this 
child  of  agriculture.  Illegitimate !  If  it  be  so,  it  has 
done  more  for  the  country  than  any  other  child  that 


j.  j.  woodman's  administration — 1880-1881     113 

has  been  born  to  it  since  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence. It  is  the  foundation  of  our  wealth,  the  corner- 
stone of  our  prosperity  and  the  fruitful  source  from 
which  we  derive  our  richest  and  surest  revenue." 

Worthy  Master  Woodman  concluded  that,  "the 
favorable  consideration  and  large  support  which  this 
measure  received  should  encourage  us  to  again  press 
the  matter  in  its  original  form  before  the  next  Con- 
gress, and  to  oppose  and  resist  every  effort  made  by 
friend  or  foe  of  the  measure,  to  consolidate  the  agricul- 
tural department  with  the  incorporated  interests  of  the 
country." 

At  this  time  Dr.  Loring  was  Commissioner  of  Agri- 
culture, and  in  an  address  before  the  National  Grange 
took  issue  with  that  body  on  the  question  of  consoli- 
dation with  other  interests.  With  a  view  to  harmoniz- 
ing the  ideas  of  the  Commissioner  and  the  National 
Grange,  a  committee  of  ten  was  appointed  to  confer 
with  the  Commissioner.  This  committee  called  upon 
the  Commissioner,  but  received  scant  Courtesy  at  his 
hands. 

At  this  time  the  National  Grange  was  giving  much 
attention  to  the  agricultural  colleges,  and  in  the  report 
of  the  Committee  on  Education  it  says :  "We  must  be 
allowed  to  express  our  regret  that  the  agricultural 
interests  are  too  frequently  merged,  in  these  colleges, 
into  the  ordinary  college  course.  The  usefulness  of 
the  agricultural  college  is  too  often  dwarfed,  perhaps, 
however,  by  no  fault  of  its  own,  and  yet  these  colleges 
are  too  often  agricultural  only  in  name."  This  was 
certainly  a  just  complaint  at  that  time,  and  the  course 
subsequently  pursued  by  the  Grange  had  much  to  do 
with  curing  the  condition.  At  this  session  the 
Masters  of  State  Granges  made  their  first  re- 
ports to  the  National  Grange,  by  order  of  the  pre- 
vious session.  These  reports  were  from  twelve  to 
twenty  lines  in  length  and  limited  entirely  to  report- 
ing the  condition  of  the  Order  in  the  several  states. 


114  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

The  report  of  the  Treasurer,  which  was  always  an 
interesting  feature,  shows  the  total  receipts  to  be 
$17,658.14,  including  a  United  States  bond  sale  to  the 
amount  of  $2,627.50,  leaving  a  balance  of  $40,000  in- 
vested in  United  States  bonds.  Total  expenditures 
were  $15,403.59. 

The  Secretary  reported  57  new  Granges  organized 
during  the  last  year,  against  44  organized  the  year 
before. 


CHAPTER    X 

J.  J.  Woodman's  Administration,  Second  Term,  Two 

Years,  1 882-1 883 — Sixteenth  and  Seventeenth 

Annual  Sessions  of  the  National  Grange 

Worthy  Master  J.  J.  Woodman  was  the  first  man  to 
be  elected  to  that  office  for  a  second  term.  With  an 
experience  of  two  years  he  entered  zealously  upon  the 
work  before  him. 

The  Grange  was  now  confronted  with  active  rivals 
in  the  National  Farmers'  Alliance  in  the  North- 
west and  the  National  Farmers'  Alliance  and  In- 
dustrial Union  in  the  South.  These  organizations 
were  making  sensational  appeals  to  the  farmers,  which 
were  interfering,  more  or  less,  with  the  progress  in 
rebuilding  the  Grange  along  conservative  and  safer  lines. 
Safe  and  sane  leadership  was  always  necessary  to  keep 
the  Grange  off  the  rocks  on  which  other  farmers'  or- 
ganizations have  gone  to  wreck.  The  destiny  of  the 
Grange  was  in  safe  hands,  and  it  went  about  its  ap- 
pointed business  in  a  spirit  of  co-operation,  but  shun- 
ning all  possible  entangling  alliances. 

Agricultural  colleges  were  beginning  to  prosper  and 
the  science  of  agriculture  was  becoming  better  under- 
stood through  their  teaching  and  the  educational  policy 
of  the  National  Grange. 

The  press  generally  had  become  more  friendly  to 
the  Grange,  the  interests  of  agriculture  were  re- 
ceiving more  attention  and  favor  at  the  hands  of  Con- 
gress and  the  State  Legislatures  than  ever  before,  and 
the  good  work  of  the  Grange  was  manifesting  itself 
in  many  departments  of  government.  Prejudices 
against  the  Order  were  giving  way,  and  confidence  in 
the  Grange    as  a   permanent    institution    was    being 

115 


Il6  PATRONS   OF   HUSBANDRY 

restored,  while  the  great  purposes  which  it  was  seek- 
ing to  establish  were  becoming  better  understood. 

One  of  the  paramount  Grange  measures,  the  placing 
of  a  Secretary  of  Agriculture  in  the  President's  Cab- 
inet, had  passed  the  House  of  Representatives  and  was 
pending  in  the  Senate,  and  a  satisfactory  amendment 
of  the  patent  laws  had  also  passed  the  House  and  gone 
to  the  Senate  when  the  sixteenth  session  of  the  Na- 
tional Grange  met  in  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  November 
15  to  23,  1882. 

Master — J.  J.  Woodman,  Michigan. 
Overseer — Put  Darden,  Mississippi. 
Lecturer — Henry  Eshbaugh,  Missouri. 
Steward — William  Sims,  Kansas. 
Assistant  Steivard — J.  J.  Rosa,  Delaware. 
Chaplain — H.  O.  Devries,  Maryland. 
Treasurer — F.  M.  McDowell,  New  York. 
Secretary — W.  M.  Ireland,  District  of  Columbia. 
Gatekeeper — James  Draper,  Massachusetts. 
Ceres — Mrs.  H.  H.  Woodman,  Michigan. 
Pomona — Mrs   Mary  L.  Darden,  Mississippi. 
Flora — Mrs.  E.  M.  Nicholson,  New  Jersey. 
Lady  Assistant  Steward — Mrs.  H.  A.  Sims,  Kansas. 
Executive  Committee— D.  Wyatt  Aiken,  Chairman,  South  Caro- 
lina; J.  M.  Blanton,  Virginia;  J.  H.  Brigham,  Ohio. 

Thirty-two  states  were  represented  by  the  following 
delegates:  Alabama,  B.  C.  Harrison;  Arkansas,  J.  V. 
Scott;  California,  D.  and  Mrs.  Flint;  Delaware,  J.  J. 
Rosa;  Georgia,  H.  R.  Deadwyler;  Illinois,  E.  A.  and 
Mrs.  Giller;  Indiana,  Aaron  Jones  ;  Iowa,  D.  W.  Jones; 
Kansas,  Wm.  and  Mrs.  Sims ;  Kentucky,  J.  L.  and  Mrs. 
Neal ;  Louisiana,  Daniel  Morgan;  Maine,  F.  and  Mrs. 
Robie ;  Maryland,  H.  O.  and  Mrs.  Devries ;  Massachu- 
setts, J.  and  Mrs.  Draper;  Michigan,  C.  G.  Luce; 
Minnesota,  T.  T.  Smith ;  Mississippi,  P.  and  Mrs. 
Darden;  Missouri,  H.  and  Mrs.  Eshbaugh;  New 
Hampshire,  G.  A.  and  Mrs.  Wason ;  New  Jersey,  J.  W. 
and  Mrs.  Nicholson;  New  York,  W.  A.  Armstrong; 
North  Carolina,  W.  H.  and  Mrs.  Cheek;  Ohio,  J.  H. 
Brigham;  Oregon,    R.  P.  and  Mrs.  Boise;    Pennsyl- 


j.  j.  woodman's  administration — 1882-1883     117 

vania,  L.  and  Mrs.  Rhone;  South  Carolina,  J.  N.  Lips- 
comb ;  Tennessee,  T.  B.  Harwell ;  Texas,  A.  J.  and 
Mrs.  Rose;  Vermont,  A.  B.  and  Mrs.  Franklin;  Vir- 
ginia, J.  M.  and  Mrs.  Blanton;  West  Virginia,  R.  W. 
and  Mrs.  Baylor;  Wisconsin,  S.  C.  and  Mrs.  Carr. 

The  thoughtful  "address"  of  the  Worthy  Master 
dealt  exclusively  with  routine  matters,  with  a  hopeful 
spirit  pervading  it  from  start  to  finish.  The  real  con- 
dition of  the  Order  is  shown  more  fully  in  the  Treas- 
urer's report  than  anywhere  else.  It  does  not  show  the 
sale  of  any  United  States  bonds  this  year,  and  there- 
fore shows  a  falling  off  in  the  receipts  which  total  for 
the  year  $14,144.50,  with  a  total  expenditure  of 
$11,948.47.  The  Secretary  reported  "a  steady  increase 
of  new  Granges,  with  a  total  of  yj  for  the  year." 

The  reports  of  Masters  of  State  Granges  made  to 
this  session  of  the  National  Grange  were  somewhat 
longer  than  those  of  the  year  before,  and  in  the  main 
were  hopeful  and  indicated  a  strengthening  of  Grange 
support.  Gradually  the  Grange  was  adjusting  itself  to 
the  new  conditions  which  were  now  confronting  it  and 
the  economic  changes  that  time  had  wrought  in  agri- 
culture and  the  country's  affairs.  The  policy  of  regu- 
larly appointing  a  National  Grange  Legislative  Com- 
mittee, to  present  Grange  measures  to  Congress  had 
not  yet  come  into  practice,  but  in  a  few  instances  indi- 
viduals had  been  selected  for  that  purpose.  During 
the  last  session  of  Congress  the  Worthy  Master  had 
appointed  W.  G.  Wayne  and  J.  G.  Shepard  of  New 
York  to  appear  before  the  Commerce  Committee  of 
the  House  of  Representatives  and  urge  upon  that  body 
the  necessity  of  regulating  by  law  transportation 
through  and  between  the  several  states.  In  their  re- 
port they  say:  "But  all  arguments  and  appeals  fell 
upon  'leaden  ears.'  The  committee  was  nearly  solid 
in  the  railroad  interest,  a  maioritv  of  whom  were 
stockholders  in,  or  attornevs  for,  these  corporations. 
But  we  do  not  despair  of  ultimate  success  in  railroad 


Il8  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

transportation  reform.  The  sense  of  public  justice  will 
not  always  slumber,  and  when  fully  aroused  the  people 
will  surely  provide  a  remedy  for  public  wrongs,  and  a 
protection  for  popular  rights." 

In  some  measure,  at  least,  this  prophecy  has 
come  to  pass  and  the  railroad  magnates  do  not 
assume  the  arrogant  attitude  toward  the  public  they 
once  did.  The  appointment  of  the  above  committee 
by  the  Worthy  Master  was  indorsed  and  a  large  dis- 
cretion given  him  in  the  appointment  of  persons  to 
give  similar  service  during  the  intervals  between  the 
annual  sessions,  much  liberty  and  discretion  being  es- 
sential to  guard  the  interests  of  the  Order.  The  ex- 
penses of  this  committee  were  paid  by  the  National 
Grange.  The  only  election  at  this  session  was  one 
member  of  the  Executive  Committee — J.  H.  Brigham 
of  Ohio  was  elected  to  succeed  Henley  James  of 
Indiana. 

After  a  year  of  constructive  work  the  seventeenth 
session  of  the  National  Grange  met  at  Washington, 
D.  C,  November  21  to  30,  1883.  All  the  officers  were 
present,  with  the  exception  of  Pomona  and  Flora. 

Thirty  states  were  represented  by  the  same  dele- 
gates as  at  the  last  session.  Arkansas  and  Georgia 
were  not  represented.  The  following  changes  were 
made  :  California,  S.  T.  and  Mrs.  Coulter ;  North  Caro- 
lina, W.  R.  Williams ;  Delaware,  H.  and  Mrs.  Thomp- 
son ;  West  Virginia,  J.  E.  Hall. 

Five  of  the  founders  attended  this  session,  A.  B. 
Grosh  and  O.  H.  Kelley  being  the  two  absent.  Wil- 
liam Saunders,  one  of  the  founders,  delivered  an  ad- 
dress of  welcome,  replete  with  sound  advice  and 
patriotism,  in  which  is  this  significant  paragraph: 
"I  am  aware  of  the  sensitiveness  of  the  members 
of  the  Order  with  regard  to  entering  upon  ques- 
tions seemingly  of  political  significance,  but  there 
is  no  possible  reason  for  ignoring  questions  of 
purely  political  economy.     And  in  this  connection  I 


j.  j.  woodman's  administration — 1882-1883     119 

would  say  that  it  cannot  but  be  a  source  of  gratifica- 
tion to  the  membership  of  the  Order,  as  well  as  to  all 
who  feel  interested  in  its  success,  that  it  has  so  effectu- 
ally maintained  its  integrity  with  regard  to  the  strictly 
partisan  political  questions  of  the  times.  In  this  respect 
it  has  greatly  disappointed  those  prophets  who  fore- 
told the  early  dissolution  of  the  Order  which  was  to 
follow  the  political  wranglings  in  which,  in  their 
opinion,  it  was  sure  to  engage.  But  the  Order  has 
bravely  withstood  all  enticements  to  enter  into  what  is 
called  the  'political  arena,'  and  for  this  it  deserves  the 
highest  praise." 

J.  R.  Thompson,  another  of  the  Founders,  closed 
his  address  with  this  related  statement:  "My  friends 
and  brothers  from  the  North,  South,  East  and  West, 
we  meet  as  members  of  a  common  brotherhood ;  we 
come  together  under  no  restraints  of  any  political 
party;  we  are  wedded  to  no  sectarian  belief,  but  we 
place  'faith  in  God,'  the  'great  Patron  of  Husbandry.' 
We  are  citizens  of  one  great  Republic,  loyal  to  the 
same  flag  and  Constitution ;  let  us  endeavor  to  exem- 
plify the  Divine  command,  'Love  thy  neighbor  as 
thyself.' " 

The  Worthy  Master  said  many  excellent  things  in 
his  "address."  After  giving  the  history  of  the  intro- 
duction of  business  co-operation  into  the  Grange  he 
has  this  to  say : 

"Hence  it  appears  that  the  system  of  co-operation,  which 
proved  such  a  signal  failure  and  operated  so  disastrously  to  the 
Order  in  some  of  the  Western  and  Southern  States,  did  not 
originate  with  the  National  Grange,  but  practically  with  the  or- 
ganizing deputies.  Members  of  the  Subordinate  Granges  had  be- 
come such  by  promises  of  great  financial  benefits.  Money  flowed 
into  the  State  Grange  treasuries  which  they  had  paid  in  fees  and 
dues,  and  the  demands  went  up  to  the  State  Granges  to  use  it  in 
business  enterprises.  Some  State  Granges  yielded  to  the  demand 
and  engaged  in  milling  and  manufacturing  enterprises  with  the 
funds  in  their  treasuries  and  upon  their  own  responsibility. 

"It  was  not  until  the  National  Grange  became  a  'representative 
body'  that  business  co-operation  received  its  sanction  and  encour- 


120  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

agement.  State  agents,  under  bonds  for  faithful  work,  were 
recommended  at  the  ninth  annual  session,  and  at  the  same  meet- 
ing a  resolution  for  the  establishment  of  'National  Business 
Agencies'  was  defeated  by  the  decisive  vote  of  35  to  8.  I  call 
attention  to  these  facts  to  show  that  the  National  Grange  has  ever 
been  conservative  on  this  question  of  co-operation,  and  that  all 
systems  recommended  or  indorsed  by  it  have  been  thoroughly 
matured  and  well  guarded.  Had  the  advice  of  a  majority  of  the 
founders  of  the  Order  and  the  recommendations  of  the  National 
Grange  been  heeded  and  practiced,  these  business  failures  and 
calamities  would  have  been  avoided.  The  principal  cause  of  fail- 
ure was  in  placing  business  enterprises  backed  by  the  funds  of 
the  State  Grange  into  the  hands  of  agents  who  were  wanting  in 
business  experience  and  qualifications  necessary  to  manage  them. 

"Correct  business  habits  and  real  co-operation  among  the  mem- 
bers of  our  Order  are  as  essential  to  its  prosperity  and  perpetuity 
as  breath  is  to  physical  life,  and  as  indissolubly  connected  with  its 
educational  system  as  household  economy,  the  production  of 
crops,  care  and  management  of  domestic  animals  or  beautifying 
and  adorning  our  homes.  It  cannot  reasonably  be  expected  that 
persons  who  have  had  no  practical  experience  or  special  training 
in  mercantile  business,  milling  or  manufacturing,  can  be  qualified 
to  successfully  manage  such  enterprises.  Business  men  do  not 
spring  up  like  mushrooms,  but  grow  like  the  stately  oak,  which 
gradually  rises  and  spreads  its  branches  under  the  genial  and 
vivifying  influence  of  the  sunshine  and  the  rain,  and  strikes  its 
root  deeper  and  more  firmly  into  the  earth  when  beat  upon  and 
swayed  by  the  wind  and  the  storm.  So  men  must  be  educated 
for  any  business  avocation  in  life,  and  be  made  strong  and  well 
grounded  by  experience  derived  from  successes  and  losses. 

"Business  co-operation  should  have  a  place  in  every  Sub- 
ordinate Grange,  however  small  the  beginning  and  limited  the 
means,  and  if  well  managed  and  patronized,  it  cannot  fail  to  pros- 
per, and  not  only  benefit  the  members  financially,  but  educate 
them  into  correct  and  practical  business  habits." 

In  view  of  the  numerous  failures  of  so-called  Grange 
co-operative  stores  and  other  business  enterprises 
throughout  the  country,  this  was  an  important  statement, 
which  would  indicate  that  many  of  the  failures  which 
proved  so  disastrous  to  the  Grange  itself  should  not 
have  been  charged  to  the  Grange. 

The  Worthy  Treasurer  reported  the  receipts  for  the 
year  $15,412.25,  which  included  the  proceeds  of  United 


j.  j.  woodman's  administration — 1882-1883     I21 

States  bond  sales  to  the  amount  of  $2,577.50,  leaving 
a  balance  invested  in  United  States  bonds  of  $38,000. 
The  total  expenditures  for  the  year  were  $12,704.89. 
The  interest  on  the  United  States  bonds  owned  by  the 
National  Grange  for  a  number  of  years  had  been  be- 
tween $2,000  and  $3,000,  and  in  addition  to  this  it  had 
been  necessary  to  sell  $2,000  or  more  of  the  bonds 
themselves  annually  to  pay  current  expenses.  It  is 
easy  to  see  what  would  have  happened  to  the  National 
Grange  if  this  source  of  income  had  not  been  available 
during  these  trying  years.  In  spite  of  this,  however, 
the  outlook  was  encouraging  for  the  future.  The 
Worthy  Secretary  reported  97  new  Granges  organized 
during  the  year,  an  increase  of  about  26  per  cent. 

The  political  unrest  in  the  country  was  beginning  to 
manifest  itself  in  the  Grange  and  among  the  farmers 
generally.  It  came  up  in  this  session  of  the  National 
Grange,  and  a  "Special  Committee  on  Political  Econ- 
omy" was  appointed,  which  made  a  report  that  after 
much  discussion  and  more  or  less  amendment  was 
adopted.  Because  of  its  significance,  and  because  it 
clearly  defines  the  present  position  of  the  Grange  upon 
the  subject,  the  report  adopted  is  reproduced. 

"While  we  firmly  adhere  to  the  cardinal  principles  enunciated 
in  our  Declaration  of  Purposes  that  in  the  Grange  there  is,  and 
can  be  no  partisan  politics,  yet  as  the  Church  teaches  pure  morals, 
and,  without  partisan  bias,  seeks  to  advance  Christianity  for  the 
good  of  us  all,  so  we,  to  better  conserve  those  great  interests  of 
our  class,  which,  if  properly  guarded  and  fostered,  will  bless  all 
mankind,  must  give  heed  to  those  public  questions  and  laws 
which  affect  our  calling;  and  we  may,  without  just  cause  of 
criticism  from  any  other  class  or  party,  seek  such  political  re- 
forms as  will  promote  our  interests,  and  relieve  our  industries 
from  unjust  burdens.  In  heeding  the  admonition  of  our  Ritual  to 
promote  the  welfare  of  our  country  and  mankind,  we  do  not  do 
our  duty  as  patrons  and  citizens  if  we  neglect  to  call  public  atten- 
tion to  political  abuses  or  cease  to  strive  to  correct  them.  The 
political  reforms  we  ask  for  and  the  laws  we  seek  to  amend  or 
enact  are  in  no  wise  partisan. 

"The  innocent  purchaser  and  user  of  patented  articles,  who  has 
to  pay  an  unjust  royalty,  suffers  in  the  same  degree,  whatever 


122  PATRONS   OF   HUSBANDRY 

may  be  his  political  affiliations.  The  establishment  of  a  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture,  now  so  necessary  to  aid  in  the  proper  de- 
velopment of  our  industry,  and  raise  it  up  to  a  higher  level  of 
respectability,  and  increase  our  influence  in  the  affairs  of  the 
nation,  has  no  partisan  taint.  So,  also,  is  the  transportation  ques- 
tion— the  railroad  monopolies  levying  their  unjust  exactions  alike 
on  citizens  of  all  parties.  As  they  are  said  to  be  without  souls, 
so  they  are  without  partisan  affiliation,  except  to  accomplish  their 
own  selfish  purposes.  In  this  regard  they  are  most  aptly  de- 
scribed by  Jay  Gould,  in  his  testimony  before  the  Hepburn  Com- 
mittee, when  he  declared  that,  when  seeking  to  get  his  friends 
elected  to  office  in  a  Republican  district,  he  was  a  Republican ;  in 
a  Democratic  district,  he  was  a  Democrat.  As  Patrons,  it  is  our 
duty  to  discuss  all  questions  of  political  economy;  to  become 
acquainted  with  questions  of  revenue  and  taxation;  to  learn  the 
extent  and  necessity  of  public  burdens,  and  look  into  the  efficiency 
of  every  public  service;  to  seek  to  regulate,  by  proper  laws,  all 
corporations  who  do  business  for  the  public;  to  look  after  the 
general  welfare  of  agriculture  and  endeavor  to  have  all  unjust 
burdens  imposed  on  it  removed,  and,  when  necessary,  by  legal  en- 
actment, to  strive  to  have  our  principles  and  measures  adopted  by 
all  political  parties;  to  strive  to  secure  the  election  of  men  to 
office  and  places  of  trust  who  believe  in  our  principles,  and  will 
endeavor  to  maintain  and  make  them  practical ;  to  carefully 
scrutinize  the  characters  of  all  men  who  are  candidates  for  office, 
and  pledge  them,  as  far  as  may  be,  to  support  the  measures  recom- 
mended by  the  Grange;  to  insist  that  those  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  be  elected  to  political  offices  and  places  of  trust  in  a 
ratio  commensurate  with  the  interests  they  represent.  To  create 
and  maintain  a  public  sentiment  that  shall  ostracize  and  make 
infamous,  as  guilty  of  moral  treason,  any  legislator  who  shall 
refuse  or  neglect  to  subserve  the  known  interests  of  the  whole 
people,  or  other  officer  who  shall  betray  a  public  trust. 

"Therefore,  Resolved,  That,  because  of  the  burdens,  resulting 
from  subsidies  in  land  grants,  transportation,  patent  laws,  un- 
equal taxation,  boards  of  trade,  and  for  the  want  of  a  properly 
equalized  tariff  system,  the  farmers  of  America,  in  self-defense, 
and  for  the  protection  of  the  wealth-producing  classes,  should 
take  a  positive  stand  against  all  monopolies. 

"Resolved,  That  the  National  Grange  doth  most  earnestly 
recommend  that,  in  all  State  and  Subordinate  Granges,  those 
questions  of  public  policy  and  national  import,  as  they  relate  to 
agriculture,  be  discussed,  making  them  prominent  both  in  and  out 
of  the  Grange,  and  thus  aid  in  arresting  the  evils  which  threaten 
the  agricultural  interests  of  our  country. 


j.  j.  woodman's  administration — 1882-1883     123 

"Resolved,  That  the  National  Grange,  at  this,  its  seventeenth 
annual  session,  places  itself  upon  record  in  vindication  of  the 
aforegoing  policies ;  and  through  its  representatives  from  30 
states  of  this  Union,  now  assembled,  declares  its  devotion  to 
questions  of  public  policy  rather  than  partisanship,  and  its  future 
purpose  to  be  adherence  to  principle.  That  we  will,  by  our  influ- 
ence and  vote,  support  measures  and  men  for  office  who  will  labor 
to  subserve  the  best  interests  of  the  whole  people. 

"Resolved,  We  urge  that  farmers  always  take  an  active  part, 
and  thus  make  their  power  felt  in  all  primary  meetings,  looking 
to  the  selection  of  delegates  or  candidates  to  represent  the  people 
in  town,  township,  county,  state  or  national  councils.  And  that  our 
efforts  be  further  directed  to  the  suppression  of  buying  and  sell- 
ing votes  at  any  and  all  elections." 

The  agricultural  colleges  were  receiving  marked  at- 
tention from  the  Grange,  and,  in  pursuance  of  a  deter- 
mined policy,  the  following  resolutions  were  adopted : 

"1.  That  we  favor  the  introduction  into  our  public  schools  of 
primary  instruction  in  agriculture  and  of  the  natural  sciences,  this 
being  alike,  in  our  judgment,  for  the  best  interests  and  advantage 
of  the  children  of  all  classes. 

"2.  That  we  hold  it  should  be  in  fact,  and  is  in  accordance  with 
the  spirit  of  the  organic  art,  that  it  should  be  the  leading  object 
of  all  agricultural  colleges  established  under  act  of  1862,  to  teach 
such  branches  of  learning  as  are  related  to  agriculture  and  the 
mechanic  arts ;  and  that  the  obligation  is  equally  binding  upon  all 
state  students  to  study  these  branches,  which  either  relate  to 
agriculture  or  the  mechanic  arts,  whilst  claiming  the  benefits  of 
the  endowment  fund  by  which  the  colleges  are  supported. 

"3.  That  we  favor,  further,  such  a  reorganization  of  these 
colleges  as  will  furnish  the  youth  of  the  country  with  good  com- 
mon school  education,  as  is  the  case  in  medical,  law  and  other 
schools,  to  enter  them  and  begin  at  once  the  study  of  practical 
agriculture  as  taught  in  them,  and  who  shall  continue  the  study  as 
long  as  they  remain  in  the  college,  or  until  the  course  is  com- 
pleted." 

For  a  number  of  years  thoughtful  members  of  the 
Grange  had  realized  the  mistake  the  Order  made,  in  the 
early  years  of  its  prosperity  and  plethoric  treasury,  in 
not  erecting  a  permanent  headquarters  in  Washington. 
Repeated  efforts  had  been  made  to  secure  a  lease  or  a 
donation  from  Congress  of  the  land  on  which  the  build- 


124  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

ing  stood  where  the  Grange  was  organized.  This 
effort  failed.  At  this  session  a  special  committee  was 
appointed  to  report  a  plan  of  raising  money  to  erect 
a  "Temple  to  Ceres"  in  the  city  of  Washington  for 
Grange  headquarters.  Voluntary  contributions  were 
asked  for  from  individuals  and  Subordinate  Granges, 
but  only  about  $700  was  ever  contributed,  which 
amount  was  afterwards  carried  as  a  "Temple  Fund." 

No  change  was  made  in  officers'  salaries.  The  date 
of  meeting  of  the  National  Grange  was  changed  by 
constitutional  amendment  from  the  "third  Wednes- 
day" to  the  "Wednesday  after  the  second  Monday" 
in  November. 


CHAPTER     XI 

J.  J.  Woodman's  Administration,    Third  Term,    Two 

Years,  1 884-1 885 — Eighteenth  and  Nineteenth 

Sessions  of  the  National  Grange 

Elected  to  his  third  term  as  Worthy  Master  of  the 
National  Grange,  J.  J.  Woodman  continued  the  policy 
of  his  two  previous  terms,  the  chief  work  of  which 
was  the  establishment  of  the  Grange  upon  a  solid 
financial  and  economic  basis,  thereby  securing  the 
support  and  confidence  of  thoughtful  people. 

The  eighteenth  session  of  the  National  Grange  met 
at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  November  12  to  19,  1884.  Officers 
elected  at  the  preceding  session  were : 

Master — J.  J.  Woodman,  Michigan. 

Overseer — Put  Darden,  Mississippi. 

Lecturer — Henry  Eshbaugh,  Missouri. 

Steward — William  Sims,  Kansas. 

Assistant  Steward — John  J.  Rosa,  Delaware. 

Chaplain — Henry  O.  Devries,  Maryland. 

Treasurer — F.  M.  McDowell,  New  York. 

Secretary — William  M.  Ireland,  District  of  Columbia. 

Gatekeeper — James  Draper,  Massachusetts. 

Pomona — Mrs.  Mary  L.  Darden,  Mississippi. 

Flora — Mrs.  E.  M.  Nicholson,  New  Jersey. 

Ceres — Mrs.  H.  H.  Woodman,  Michigan. 

Lady  Assistant  Steward — Mrs.  H.  A.  Sims,  Kansas. 

Executive  Committee — D.  Wyatt  Aiken,  Chairman,  South  Caro- 
lina, and  J.  M.  Blanton,  Virginia,  re-elected;  J.  H.  Brigham 
holding  over. 

Thirty  states  were  entitled  to  representation  and 
twenty-eight  were  represented  by  the  following  dele- 
gates :  Alabama,  B.  C.  Harrison  ;  California,  S.  T.  and 
Mrs.  Coulter;  Delaware,  Henry  Thompson;  Georgia, 
Daniel  Gillis  ;  Illinois,  E.  A.  and  Mrs.  Giller ;  Iowa,  J.  E. 
Blackford;  Indiana,  Aaron  Jones;  Kansas,  William 
and  Mrs.  Sims;  Kentucky,  J.  L.  and  Mrs.  Neal;  Louis- 

125 


126  PATRONS   OF   HUSBANDRY 

iana,  Daniel  Morgan;  Maryland,  H.  O.  and  Mrs. 
Devries;  Massachusetts,  J.  and  Mrs.  Draper;  Michi- 
gan; C.  G.  and  Mrs.  Luce;  Minnesota,  S.  E.  and  Mrs. 
Adams;  Mississippi,  Put.  Darden ;  Missouri,  J.  M. 
Sneed ;  New  Hampshire,  W.  H.  Stinson ;  New  Jersey, 
I.  W.  and  Mrs.  Nicholson;  New  York,  W.  A.  Arm- 
strong; North  Carolina,  W.  R.  Williams;  Ohio,  J.  H. 
Brigham;  Pennsylvania,  L.  and  Mrs.  Rhone;  South 
Carolina,  J.  N.  and  Mrs.  Lipscomb ;  Tennessee,  W.  H. 
Nelson;  Texas,  A.  J.  Rose;  Virginia,  J.  M.  and  Mrs. 
Blanton;  West  Virginia,  J.  E.  Hall;  Wisconsin,  S.  C. 
and  Mrs.  Carr.    Maine  and  Vermont  not  represented. 

The  Worthy  Master  delivered  a  long  and  carefully 
prepared  address  dealing  with  current  Grange  and 
other  matters  in  a  thoughtful  manner.  He  said  about 
the  condition  of  the  Order : 

"As  far  as  I  am  able  to  judge,  we  have  no  cause  for  discourage- 
ment in  the  general  condition  and  work  of  the  Order.  While  it 
is  true  that  in  some  sections  it  seems  to  languish,  in  others  it  is 
strong  and  prosperous.  The  financial  condition  of  our  treasury 
seems  to  indicate  a  general  increasing  prosperity.  The  presiden- 
tial campaign  just  closed  has  so  engaged  the  attention  of  all 
classes  of  our  people  that  it  would  be  strange  if  it  had  not  de- 
tracted from  the  interest  of  Grange  work.  But  no  instance  has 
come  to  my  knowledge  where  the  Order  has  departed  from  its 
wise  and  well-defined  non-partisan  policy  and  lent  its  influence  to 
aid  the  special  interest  of  partisanship.  There  have  been  encour- 
aging indications  of  an  increasing  interest  among  Patrons  in  the 
general  politics  of  the  country ;  but  the  Order  has  held  its  course 
steadily  onward,  battling  for  the  right  and  for  men  and  principles 
rather  than  party." 

The  report  of  the  Treasurer  showed  total  receipts  of 
$15,584.74,  and  total  expenditures  of  $10,205.52,  leaving 
a  balance  of  $5,379.22. 

No  change  was  made  in  the  compensation  of  the 
officers  for  the  next  year.  The  following  legislative 
committee  was  appointed  to  present  matters  which  had 
been  considered  and  recommended  to  Congress :  E.  F. 
Jones,    New   York;   J.  M.    Blanton,   Virginia;    H.  O. 


j.  j.  woodman's  administration — 1884-1885     127 

Devries,   Maryland;    Leonard    Rhone,   Pennsylvania; 
and  John  Trimble,  District  of  Columbia. 

The  nineteenth  session  of  the  National  Grange  met  at 
Boston,  Mass.,  November  11  to  20,  1885.  Twenty-nine 
states  were  represented  ;  Louisiana,  Maryland  and  Vir- 
ginia were  not  represented,  and  the  following  addi- 
tions and  changes  were  made :  California,  Wm.  and 
Mrs.  Johnson;  Minnesota,  W.  S.  Chowen;  Connecticut, 
S.  and  Mrs.  Kimberly ;  New  Jersey,  R.  and  Mrs.  Coles; 
Indiana,  M.  and  Mrs.  Trusler;  Oregon,  R.  P.  and  Mrs. 
Boice;  Kansas,  W.  H.  Toothaker;  Vermont,  A.  B.  and 
Mrs.  Franklin;  Maine,  F.  and  Mrs.  Robie.  Secretary 
W.  M.  Ireland  had  resigned  March  28,  1885,  to  take 
effect  April  15.  In  a  letter  accompanying  his  resigna- 
tion, he  said : 

"My  other  business  engagements,  which,  by  the  way,  are  of  a 
life  tenure,  require  so  much  of  my  time,  and  are  constantly  in- 
creasing, and  so  frequently  require  my  absence  from  the  city  for 
indefinite  periods,  that  I  cannot  now  give  the  attention  to  Grange 
matters  that  I  would  like  to  do,  or  that  they  require.  Therefore, 
I  feel  that  justice  to  the  Order,  as  well  as  to  myself,  requires  that 
I  no  longer  continue  to  hold  the  office  of  Secretary.  Feeling  in 
this  way,  I  have  today  sent  to  the  Executive  Committee  my 
resignation  and  inclose  to  you  a  copy.  I  have  been  connected 
with  the  Order  since  its  earliest  inception,  and  with  the  exception 
of  two  years,  have  attended  every  session  of  the  National  Grange, 
and  at  all  of  them  but  one  have  prepared  the  journal  of  proceed- 
ings. Since  1878  I  have  filled  the  office  of  Secretary.  During 
these  many  years  I  have  seen  the  Order  grow  from  a  puny  infant 
to  the  stature  of  a  giant;  have  seen  its  strength  and  power  almost 
gone,  and  again  brought  from  the  verge  of  the  grave  until  it 
stands  today  in  the  full  vigor  and  strength  of  manhood.  During 
all  the  years  of  existence  my  faith  in  the  ultimate  triumph  of  its 
noble  objects  and  principles  has  never  for  a  moment  wavered.  I 
have  ever  endeavored  to  serve  it  faithfully  wherever  and  when- 
ever my  services  were  needed,  and  now  that  its  dark  days  have 
passed  and  it  seems  to  be  prosperous  in  every  way,  I  feel  that  I 
can  lay  aside  my  official  robes  with  a  consciousness  that  my  duty 
has  been  done.  But  in  thus  asking  to  be  relieved  of  the  duties  of 
Secretary,  I  only  sever  my  official  connection  with  the  Order. 
Personally,  I  shall  always  be  one  of  you,  and  in  every  way  in  my 
power  will  aid  in  advancing  the  interests  of  the  Order." 


128  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

The  Executive  Committee  accepted  the  resignation 
and  appointed  John  Trimble,  Washington,  D.  C,  to  fill 
the  unexpired  term. 

This  session  closed  the  third  and  last  term  of  J.  J. 
Woodman's  administration,  and  the  thirteenth  year 
since  the  first  delegate  session  in  January,  1873.  The 
Grange  had  made  a  good  deal  of  important  history,  and 
had  impressed  its  influence  upon  public  questions  in 
such  a  way  that  it  could  never  be  erased,  whatever 
might  be  the  future  fate  of  the  Order.  In  his  last 
address  to  the  National  Grange  Worthy  Master  Wood- 
man, after  briefly  citing  the  history  of  the  Order  and 
the  conditions  which  brought  it  into  existence,  fittingly 
summarized  some  of  its  achievements,  as  follows: 

"The  true  mission  of  the  Order  is  indicated  by  the  necessities 
and  events  which  brought  it  into  existence,  and  is  clearly  ex- 
pressed in  its  Declaration  of  Purposes;  that  document  has  been 
before  the  world  for  more  than  a  decade,  eliciting  admiration 
and  challenging  criticism.  It  will,  therefore,  be  seen  that  our 
organization  was  founded  upon  the  necessities  of  agriculture,  and 
the  principles  which  underlie  it,  if  carried  out,  comprehend  all 
that  is  required  to  place  our  interests  and  our  class  on  a  plane  of 
prosperity  approximating  to  that  enjoyed  by  other  great  interests. 
It  was  never  intended  that  its  work  should  be  to  tear  down  but  to 
build  up;  not  to  level  the  palace,  but  to  change  the  hovel  to  a 
pleasant  and  comfortable  home;  not  to  deprive  the  favored  ones 
of  a  single  advantage  they  now  enjoy  for  literary  acquirements, 
but  to  bring  the  means  of  obtaining  a  higher  education,  more 
suited  to  the  farmer's  calling,  within  the  reach  of  all  the  children 
of  rural  homes;  not  to  take  from  any  class  or  interest  a  privilege 
or  right  which  legitimately  belongs  to  them,  but  to  secure  for  our- 
selves and  our  posterity  the  social,  moral  and  intellectual 
privileges  which  rightfully  belong  to  us,  and  to  enjoy  without 
hindrance  the  fruit  of  our  labor;  not  by  the  power  of  numbers 
to  assume  political  control  and  arbitrarily  attempt  to  shape  the 
policy  of  the  nation,  but  to  bring  farmers  to  the  front,  that  their 
voices  may  be  heard  and  their  influence  felt  in  the  councils  of  the 
nation. 

"For  the  accomplishment  of  these  objects  have  its  officers  and 
members  labored,  and  the  result  must  be  apparent  to  every  observ- 
ing mind. 

"In  1S73,  when  farmers  were  moving  in  the  work  of  organiza- 


j.  j.  woodman's  administration — 1884-1885     129 

tion,  and  the  Order  had  obtained  a  foothold  in  nearly  every  state, 
the  agitation  of  the  question  of  correcting  by  legislation  the 
abuses  which  railroad  corporations  were  practicing  in  freight 
charges,  began.  The  farmers  of  the  great  Northwest  had  voted 
taxes  upon  themselves,  subscribed  to  stock,  and  mortgaged  their 
farms  to  build  the  roads,  in  the  vain  hope  that  they  would  realize 
not  only  interest  and  dividends  upon  stock  subscribed,  but  better 
prices  for  their  farm  products.  But  in  all  this  they  were  doomed 
to  disappointment.  The  money  was  used,  stock  absorbed,  and 
farms  sold  under  the  mortgages,  and  a  system  of  spoliation  in 
freight  charges  established  by  the  companies  which  would  have 
disgraced  the  feudal  ages;  and  the  managers  of  the  corporations 
were  raised,  as  if  by  magic,  from  gentlemen  in  comfortable  cir- 
cumstances to  millionaires.  No  wonder  farmers  organized  to 
resist  these  encroachments  upon  their  rights.  No  wonder  that, 
for  once  at  least,  they  tore  themselves  from  party  ties,  held  con- 
ventions and  nominated  and  elected  men  pledged  to  represent 
their  interests.  And  it  was  not  strange  that  legislative  bodies 
thus  elected  should  pass  laws  for  correcting,  as  far  as  possible, 
these  abuses,  and  giving  relief  to  a  wronged  and  oppressed  peo- 
ple. Laws  thus  enacted  were  resisted  by  the  companies,  under 
the  plea  that  they  were  operating  under  general  laws  and 
special  charters,  and  were  therefore  above  and  beyond  legislative 
control.  There  was  scarcely  a  statesman  or  lawyer  in  all  the 
land  that  did  not  coincide  in  this  theory.  The  companies  were 
prosecuted,  however,  and  the  cases  went  into  the  courts.  The 
parties  to  the  suit  were,  practically,  the  farmers  of  the  country, 
in  their  newly  organized  capacity,  versus  the  great  railroad  cor- 
porations. These  cases  elicited  great  interest  among  all  classes. 
Statesmen,  attorneys  and  journalists  gave  thought  and  study  to 
the  questions  involved.  Horace  Greeley  was  the  first  man  of 
national  reputation  who  espoused  the  farmers'  cause,  followed 
by  Senator  Carpenter  of  Wisconsin,  Senator  Windom  of  Minne- 
sota, Judge  Black  of  Pennsylvania  and  others. 

"The  National  Grange  met  in  St.  Louis  in  February,  1884, 
and  the  first  appeal  to  Congress  to  regulate  interstate  commerce 
was  made  at  that  session  by  the  Order  through  its  national  or- 
ganization. The  Senate  appointed  a  committee,  of  which  Senator 
Windom  of  Minnesota  was  chairman,  to  investigate  the  com- 
plaints against  the  railroad  companies  and  report  to  that  body. 
The  report  was  made,  and  more  than  sustained  all  the  charges 
and  complaints  made.  The  report  has  passed  into  history,  and 
every  member  who  signed  it,  save  one,  has  been  retired  from  his 
scat  in  the  Senate,  and  most  of  them,  it  is  alleged,  through  the 
influence  of  railroad  managers.    The  cases  in  court  finally  reached 


130  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  and  from  that  high 
tribunal  came  the  decision,  which  was  hailed  with  joy  by  the 
people  everywhere,  that  'when  private  property  is  taken  for  pub- 
lic use  it  is  subject  to  public  regulation';  and  'that  the  power  to 
regulate  the  same  is  in  the  legislative  department  of  the  gov- 
ernment.' 

"The  Board  of  Railroad  Commissioners  of  Massachusetts,  in 
their  first  annual  report  after  the  decision  was  made,  paid  a 
very  high  compliment  to  our  Order,  in  declaring  that  the  action 
of  the  farmers  of  the  West,  in  prosecuting  the  railroad  com- 
panies and  obtaining  this  decision,  is  worth  more  to  the  coun- 
try than  their  organization  had  cost.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
president  of  the  Central  Pacific  railroad  of  California  denounces 
the  decision  as  'a  most  flagrant  violation  of  the  principles  of  free 
government,  and  entirely  in  harmony  with  the  theory  of  gov- 
ernment which  rests  its  foundation  on  might  and  asserts  the 
divine  right  of  kings.'  He  further  declares  that  'the  communists 
and  the  agitator  Kearney  advocated  no  doctrine  in  regard  to 
property  more  atrocious  than  the  principles  embodied  in  the 
Granger  cases  and  the  laws  they  sustain.' 

"This  was  our  first  triumph  over  the  'tyranny  of  monopolies,' 
and  if  the  advantages  gained  have  not  been  followed  up  and 
maintained  by  the  necessary  legislation  to  remove  all  the  evils 
complained  of,  the  fault  has  not  been  with  the  Order,  but  with 
the  farmers  themselves  in  failing  to  use  it  as  a  medium  for  ac- 
complishing that  object;  for  every  National  Grange,  and  almost 
every  State  Grange  that  has  met  since  that  time,  have  memo- 
rialized Congress  and  State  Legislatures,  and  thousands  of  earnest 
petitioners  from  the  Subordinate  Granges  have  added  their  sup- 
plications for  relief. 

"The  work  of  our  Order,  in  this  contest  with  the  railroads, 
has  not  been  confined  wholly  to  efforts  to  secure  friendly  national 
legislation  for  farmers  and  the  public  interest.  Through  its 
direct  influence  most  of  the  states  have  already  enacted  whole- 
some laws  regulating  railroad  traffic  within  their  borders,  and  a 
most  wonderful  change  has  been  wrought  in  public  sentiment. 
We  have  now  many  public  men  who  dare  to  stand  by  the  people 
in  this  contest  with  monopolies,  and  the  people  stand  by  them  at 
the  ballot  box. 

"Political  parties  no  longer  hesitate  to  declare  in  favor  of 
regulating  both  state  and  interstate  commerce,  and  to  recognize 
the  importance  of  agriculture  to  national  prosperity.  President 
Arthur,  in  his  message  to  the  forty-eighth  Congress,  says:  'No 
individual  and  no  corporation  ought  to  be  invested  with  absolute 
power  over  the  interests  of  any  other  citizen  or  class  of  citizens; 


j.  j.  woodman's  administration — 1 884- 1885     131 

and  it  seems  but  just  that,  so  far  as  its  constitutional  authority  will 
permit,  Congress  should  protect  the  people  at  large  in  their  inter- 
state traffic  against  acts  of  injustice  which  the  state  governments 
are  powerless  to  prevent'  This  recommendation  embodies  all 
that  we  have  ever  asked  at  the  hands  of  Congress. 

"Our  greatest  achievements  are  not,  however,  to  be  found  in 
our  efforts  to  secure  favorable  and  friendly  legislation  for  our 
interests,  but  in  the  great  work  of  educating  and  elevating  our 
class.  When  our  Patron's  ship  was  first  launched  upon  the  great 
ocean  of  public  turmoil  and  strife  in  1873,  farmers  and  their  fam- 
ilies were,  to  a  very  great  extent,  isolated  from  each  other  in 
their  social  and  business  relations,  plodding  single-handed  and 
alone  in  their  work  of  cultivating  their  farms  and  endeavors  to 
support  their  families  from  the  products  of  the  same.  They 
were  unaccustomed  to  the  discipline  of  close  organizations,  ritual- 
istic work  or  parliamentary  usage.  Farmers  were  seldom  found 
in  places  of  public  trust,  or  taking  part  in  public  meetings  and 
discussions,  or  occupying  the  rostrum.  The  agricultural  literature 
of  the  country  was  confined  to  a  few  volumes,  containing  only 
the  cogitations  of  theorists  in  agricultural  science,  and  a  very 
limited  number  of  poorly  patronized  journals,  to  which  few  prac- 
tical farmers  furnished  contributions.  But  few  could  be  found 
who  favored  a  higher  education  for  farmers'  sons  and  daugh- 
ters, and  agricultural  and  industrial  schools  and  colleges  had  but 
few  advocates.  Well-developed  muscles  and  a  disposition  to  use 
them  were  considered  to  be  the  surest  means  of  success  in 
farming. 

"When  Congress  made  an  appropriation  to  endow  agricultural 
colleges  many  farmers  were  either  too  indifferent  to  their  own 
interests  or  prejudiced  against  such  schools  to  appreciate  the 
favor,  and  in  several  states  allowed  other  institutions  to  seize 
upon  and  appropriate  the  funds  to  their  own  use  and  benefit, 
satisfying  farmers  with  a  department  of  agriculture,  and  that 
in  name  only,  but  sufficient  to  answer  the  requirements  of  the  law. 

"He  who  fails  to  see  and  acknowledge  the  great  change  that 
has  been  wrought  and  the  influence  which  our  Order  has  exerted 
in  producing  the  same,  certainly  cannot  be  credited  with  any 
great  amount  of  discernment. 

"Farmers,  with  their  wives  and  children,  have  come  together 
in  the  Grange,  cultivated  sociability,  friendship  and  confidence  in 
each  other,  submitted  to  useful  discipline,  learned  parliamentary 
usage,  accustomed  themselves  to  read  and  recite  in  public,  write 
and  read  essays,  and  speak  in  debate  and  on  the  rostrum.  Com- 
ing together  as  a  band  of  brothers  and  sisters,  under  pledges  of 
fidelity  to  each  other,  and  a  firm  resolve  to  cultivate  a  higher 


I32  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

manhood  and  womanhood  for  themselves,  they  have  been  inspired 
to  labor  with  diligence  in  their  efforts  to  excel,  to  emulate  worthy 
examples  and  conduct  themselves  with  circumspection.  By  cul- 
tivating respect  and  esteem  for  each  other,  the  ties  of  fraternity 
have  been  strengthened.  By  taking  an  active  part  in  the  literary 
work  of  the  Grange  a  greater  desire  for  useful  knowledge  has 
been  created,  and  the  shelves  and  center  tables  better  supplied 
with  books  and  journals.  Under  the  direct  influence  and  teach- 
ings of  the  Grange  thousands  of  rural  homes  have  been  beauti- 
fied and  their  surroundings  made  more  cheerful  and  attractive ; 
and  many  sad  and  despondent  hearts  have  been  made  to  rejoice 
in  happier  homes  and  more  endearing  family  ties.  The  early 
care  and  training  of  children  have  received  attention,  and  many 
parents  have  been  made  happier  in  realizing  its  salutary  influence 
upon  the  lives  of  their  sons  and  daughters  and  their  growing 
attachment  for  home,  and  in  being  able  to  keep  the  loved  ones 
upon  the  farm. 

"Work  and  business  operations  upon  the  farm  have  been  sys- 
tematized, and  the  burden  of  labor  lightened.  Farms  have  been 
better  cultivated  and  made  more  productive.  Live  stock  has  been 
improved,  more  humanely  treated  and  better  cared  for.  Farmers 
have  been  made  to  read  and  think  and  investigate  and  act  for 
themselves,  consequently  have  become  more  self-reliant  and  inde- 
pendent. They  have  been  induced  to  take  more  interest  in  public 
affairs,  and,  being  better  qualified  to  do  so,  are  often  called  to 
fill  public  offices,  to  preside  over  conventions  and  deliberative 
bodies  and  to  address  public  assemblies.  It  is  a  fundamental 
principle  of  the  Order  to  provide  for  our  children  the  means 
for  obtaining  a  higher  and  more  practical  education,  and  better 
suited  to  the  farmer's  calling.  Hence,  we  have  advocated  for 
every  state  an  independent  agricultural  and  industrial  college,  with 
an  experimental  farm  attached.  The  fruits  of  our  labors  in  this 
direction  are  to  be  found  in  the  great  and  growing  prosperity 
which  has  attended  these  institutions  during  the  past  few  years 
and  in  the  establishment  of  experiment  stations  in  several  states, 
also  in  the  introduction  into  Congress  of  a  bill  providing  for  a 
national  agricultural  experiment  station  in  each  of  the  several 
states  of  the  Union.  Congress  should  be  memorialized  for  the 
passage  of  this  measure. 

"In  addition  to  all  this  it  has  been  well  and  truthfully  said: 
'The  Order  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry  has  enabled  farmers  to  put 
their  impress  upon  the  government  of  many  states;  it  has  pro- 
vided ways  by  which  great  savings  have  been  realized;  it  has 
taught  farmers  the  strength  of  numbers  and  the  potency  of  or- 
ganized effort  to  accomplish  useful  purposes.    Above  all,  and  be- 


j.  j.  woodman's  administration — 1884-1885     133 

yond  all  these  material  advantages,  it  has  elevated  the  standard 
of  manhood  and  womanhood  in  the  representatives  of  a  great 
industry,  where  muscle,  before,  was  regarded  as  superior  to  mind ; 
it  has  made  farmers  more  worthy  citizens  and  has  given  their 
families  higher  consideration.  Its  principles  are  in  accord  with 
the  strictest  rules  of  morality,  and  its  teachings  have  tended  to 
refine  and  elevate  all  its  members.' 

"Truly,  our  Order  is  fulfilling  its  mission,  and  has  already  ac- 
complished a  great  work,  which  no  careful  observer  can  fail  to  see 
and  acknowledge.  And  yet  there  are  broad  and  unfinished  fields 
of  labor  before  us,  and  new  ones  constantly  opening  up  to  our 
view." 

The  Treasurer's  report  showed  total  receipts 
$15,936.81,  total  expenditures  $9,282.70,  leaving  a  bal- 
ance of  $6,654.11.  This  was  the  least  ever  ex- 
pended in  any  one  year  since  1873.  Ninety  new 
Granges  were  organized  during  the  year,  scattered  over 
twenty-three  states.  The  selling  of  the  $38,000  United 
States  bonds  and  the  reinvestment  was  recommended 
by  the  Grange.  As  a  further  effort  to  economize,  the 
per  diem  of  the  Master  and  Lecturer  was  reduced  from 
$5  to  $3.     Otherwise  the  salaries  remained  as  before. 

An  amendment  to  the  Constitution  was  adopted 
granting  State  Granges  the  privilege  to  reduce  the  ini- 
tiation fee  from  $3  for  men  and  $1  for  women  to  $1  for 
men  and  50  cents  for  women.  Some  of  the  states  made 
the  reduction. 

It  was  ordered  "that  there  be  a  committee  appointed 
by  the  Executive  Committee  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to 
attend  the  present  session  of  Congress  for  the  purpose 
of  securing  legislation  in  the  interest  of  agriculture 
under  such  regulations  as  may  be  provided  by  the  Ex- 
ecutive Committee."  In  their  report  the  next  year,  the 
Executive  Committee  says :  "In  obedience  to  this  in- 
struction, the  committee  appointed  two  distinguished 
brothers  of  the  Order,  with  discretionary  powers,  who 
went  to  Washington  and  presented  to  the  Committees 
of  Congress  facts,  statistics  and  arguments  relating  to 
the  necessity  of  legislation  to  protect  and  foster  the 


134  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

interests  of  agriculture."  But  they  fail  to  name  the 
"two  distinguished  brothers." 

Previous  to  this  time  special  committees  and  persons 
had  been  designated  by  the  Master  or  the  National 
Grange  itself  to  go  to  Washington  and  look  after  some 
particular  matters  of  legislation,  but  this  seems  to  have 
been  the  first  action  of  the  National  Grange  providing 
for  the  appointment  of  a  committee  for  the  general 
purpose  of  securing  legislation  in  the  interest  of  agri- 
culture. 

Much  important  work  was  done  at  this  session, 
which  is  recalled  in  the  carefully  prepared  committee 
reports  and  the  great  number  of  resolutions  adopted. 
The  retiring  officers  were  thanked,  and  it  was  resolved  : 
"That  when  we  recall  the  grand  objects  for  which  the 
Grange  was  founded,  and  that  the  retiring  officers  have 
merited  the  'Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant,'  it  is 
indeed  from  the  promptings  of  our  hearts  that  we  enter 
in  our  Journal  this  testimonial  of  worth  and  service 
that  time  can  never  obliterate." 


Israel  Putnam  Darden,   Mississippi,   sixth  Master  of  the  Na- 
tional Grange. 


James  Draper,  Massachusetts,  seventh  Master  of  the  National 

Grange. 


CHAPTER    XII 

Put  Darden's  Administration,  First  Term,  Two  Years, 

1 886-1 887 — Twentieth  and  Twenty-First  Sessions 

of  the  National  Grange 

Grange  history  divides  itself  into  periods,  more  or 
less  related  to  social,  economic  or  political  periods  as 
they  manifested  themselves  in  the  state  or  nation,  and 
was  largely  influenced  directly  or  indirectly  by  them. 
Other  things  more  closely  related  to  the  Grange  itself 
have  tended  to  focalize  attention  upon  certain  periods, 
some  of  them  economic,  while  others  were  the  outcome 
of  personal  ambition  or  the  natural  human  rivalry  that 
separated  the  voting  membership  into  factions  or 
parties  in  the  National  Grange  itself.  The  same  thing 
was  also  discoverable  in  many  of  the  State  Granges, 
and  even  the  Subordinate  Granges  were  not  entirely 
free  from  it.  It  was  not  always  true  in  the  National 
Grange  that  the  office  was  left  to  seek  the  man,  for  it 
has  frequently  been  the  case  that  the  man  quite  vigor- 
ously sought  the  office.  To  expect  otherwise  was  ex- 
pecting too  much  of  unregenerate  humanity;  but 
it  must  be  said  to  the  credit  of  the  Grange  that  for 
half  a  century  it  seems  to  have  been  able  to  keep  parti- 
san, political  and  sectarian  questions  out  of  its  affairs. 

In  a  general  way  the  history  of  the  National  Grange 
divides  itself  into  periods  covered  by  the  administra- 
tions of  its  Masters,  and  these  subdivide  into  terms  of 
two  years  each,  from  the  fact  that  while  the  Master 
may  have  been  elected  for  two  or  more  terms  there  is 
usually  more  or  less  change  in  the  official  list  at  each 
biennial  election.  To  illustrate:  At  the  third  re- 
election of  Master  Woodman  every  one  of  the  thirteen 
officers  but  the  Gatekeeper  was  re-elected,  but  when 

135 


I36  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

Put  Darden  was  elected  Master  two  years  later  the 
only  re-election  was  that  of  F.  M.  McDowell  as  Treas- 
urer. Just  what  causes  brought  this  about  it  would  be 
impossible  to  say  from  anything  that  appears  in  the 
Journal  of  that  session. 

Mr.  Darden  was  a  Mississippian,  and  the  second  of 
the  two  men  from  the  southern  states  who  have 
held  the  office  of  Master  of  the  National  Grange,  John 
T.  Jones  of  Arkansas  being  the  other.  The  new 
Master  took  hold  of  the  work  of  the  Order  like  a  vet- 
eran, and  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry  kept  off  the  rocks 
throughout  the  year  1886. 

The  twentieth  session  of  the  National  Grange  met 
at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  November  10  to  18,  1886.  The 
following  officers  had  been  elected  at  the  preceding 
session : 

Master — Put  Darden,  Mississippi. 
Overseer — James  Draper,  Massachusetts. 
Lecturer — Mortimer  Whitehead,  New  Jersey. 
Steward — J.  E.  Hall,  West  Virginia. 

Assistant  Steward — William  H.  Stinson,  New  Hampshire. 
Chaplain — A.  J.  Rose,  Texas. 
Treasurer — F.  M.  McDowell,  New  York. 
Secretary — John  Trimble,  District  of  Columbia. 
Gatekeeper — Henry  Thompson,  Delaware. 
Ceres — Mrs.  Kate  Aby  Darden,  Mississippi. 
Pomona — Mrs.  S.  H.  Neal,  Kentucky. 
Flora — Mrs.  J.  C.  Draper,  Massachusetts. 

Lady  Assistant  Steward — Mrs.  E.  M.  Lipscomb,  South  Carolina. 
Executive  Committee — J.  J.  Woodman,  J.  M.  Blanton  and  J.  H. 
Brigham. 

At  the  previous  session  Mortimer  Whitehead  of  New 
Jersey  had  been  elected  Lecturer  to  succeed  Henry  Esh- 
baugh,  whose  poor  health  prevented  him  from  desiring 
a  re-election,  but  not  being  present  for  installation, 
under  the  following  ruling  of  Worthy  Master  Darden : 
"No  officer  can  be  installed  except  by  the  Grange  that 
elects  him,"  Mr.  Eshbaugh  was  continued  in  office. 
He  died  early  in  the  year,  and  as  his  successor 
could  not  be  installed  the  office  remained  practically 


put  darden's  administration,  1886-1887        137 

vacant  during  the  year.  That  the  ruling  was  an  error 
will  be  readily  seen  from  this  circumstance.  It  prac- 
tically prevents  any  member  from  being  elected  to 
office  in  the  National  Grange  unless  present  to  be  in- 
stalled, and  it  still  remains  the  law  of  the  Order.  It  does 
seem  that  the  Master  of  the  National  Grange,  or  of  a  State 
Grange  should  have  authority,  either  personally  or  by 
his  duly  authorized  Deputy,  to  install  an  officer  who 
might  chance  to  be  elected  in  his  absence  or  unavoid- 
able prevention  from  being  present  for  installation 
before  the  close  of  the  session.  Mr.  Whitehead  was 
immediately  installed  as  Lecturer  on  the  opening  of 
the  Grange. 

Thirty  states  were  duly  represented  :  Alabama,  B.  C. 
Harrison  ;  California,  Wm.  and  Mrs.  Johnson ;  Connec- 
ticut, J.  H.  and  Mrs.  Hale;  Delaware,  Henry  Thomp- 
son ;  Georgia,  T.  H.  Kimbrough ;  Illinois,  E.  A.  and 
Mrs.  Giller;  Indiana,  M.  and  Mrs.  Trusler;  Iowa,  J.  E. 
and  Mrs.  Blackford;  Kansas,  W.  H.  and  Mrs.  Tooth- 
aker;  Kentucky,  J.  D.  and  Mrs.  Clardy;  Maine,  F.  and 
Mrs.  Robie;  Maryland,  H.  M.  and  Mrs.  Murray; 
Massachusetts,  James  Draper;  Michigan,  C.  G.  and 
Mrs.  Luce;  Minnesota,  W.  S.  Chowen;  Mississippi, 
P.  and  Mrs.  Darden ;  Missouri,  J.  M.  Sneed;  New 
Hampshire,  W.  H.  and  Mrs.  Stinson;  New  Jersey,  R. 
and  Mrs.  Coles;  New  York,  W.  A.  Armstrong;  North 
Carolina,  W.  R.  Williams ;  Ohio,  J.  H.  Brigham ;  Ore- 
gon, R.  P.  and  Mrs.  Boise ;  Pennsylvania,  L.  and  Mrs. 
Rhone ;  South  Carolina,  J.  N.  Lipscomb ;  Texas,  A.  J. 
Rose;  Vermont,  Alpha  Messer;  Virginia,  X.  X.  and 
Mrs.  Chartters ;  West  Virginia,  J.  E.  Hall ;  Wisconsin, 
S.  C.  and  Mrs.  Carr. 

Worthy  Master  Darden  presided  over  the  twentieth 
session  of  the  National  Grange,  and  being  a  new  man 
at  the  helm  of  the  Grange  ship,  his  first  "address"  was 
listened  to  with  especial  interest.  He  makes  the 
declaration  that  "prior  to  the  establishment  of  the 
Grange  the  farmers  were  without  organization.     In- 


I38  PATRONS  OF  HUSBANDRY 

deed,  the  Grange  was  the  first  organization  established 
in  the  history  of  civilization  for  the  protection  and 
advancement  of  farmers'  rights."  The  full  sweep  of 
these  statements  must  be  attributed  somewhat  to 
his  enthusiasm.  His  zeal  leads  him  into  a  more 
serious  error  in  the  statement  that  "prior  to  the 
establishment  of  the  Grange  there  was  no  co-operation 
among  farmers."  And  then,  after  claiming  a  good 
many  things  for  the  Grange,  he  asks:  "But  why  enu- 
merate what  has  been  accomplished  by  the  Grange?  It 
has  done  more  than  all  other  agencies  combined  to 
'develop  a  higher  manhood  and  womanhood'  among 
agriculturists,  to  elevate  our  calling  and  place  us  in  a 
position  to  secure  the  rights  to  which  we  are  justly 
entitled  under  the  Constitution  of  this  government." 

The  Grange,  in  the  West  and  South  in  particular, 
had  passed  through  some  strenuous  political  expe- 
riences involving  all  sorts  of  independent  political 
parties,  and  at  this  period  was  beginning  the  unrest 
that  culminated  in  the  great  "free  silver  campaign  of 
1896."  The  farmers  were  beginning  to  feel  the  ground 
swell  of  new  issues,  and  incidentally  it  was  beginning 
to  manifest  itself  in  the  Grange,  just  as  other  move- 
ments of  the  people  had  done.  Recognizing  the  situa- 
tion, the  Worthy  Master  had  a  good  deal  to  say  about 
the  relation  of  the  Grange  to  politics.  He  quoted  at 
some  length  from  the  "Declaration  of  Purposes,"  and 
called  particular  attention  to  this : 

"We  emphatically  and  sincerely  assert  the  oft-repeated  truth, 
taught  in  our  organic  law,  that  the  Grange,  National,  State  or 
Subordinate,  is  not  a  political  party  organization.  No  Grange, 
if  true  to  its  obligations,  can  discuss  political  or  religious  ques- 
tions, nor  call  political  conventions,  nor  nominate  candidates,  nor 
even  discuss  their  merits  in  its  meetings. 

"The  improper  construction  placed  upon  this  paragraph,"  said 
the  Worthy  Master,  "has  retarded  to  some  extent  the  work  of 
our  Order.  The  National  Grange,  in  order  to  make  this  so  plain 
that  no  mistake  would  be  likely  to  be  made,  struck  out  the  words 
'political  and  religious'  where  they  occur  in  the  'Declaration  of 


put  darden's  administration,  1886-1887       139 

Purposes'  and  inserted  in  their  stead  the  words  'partisan  or 
sectarian.' 

"By  formal  resolution  it  also  made  the  protective  tariff  ques- 
tion, which  has  always  been  a  party  political  question,  a  legitimate 
subject  for  discussion  in  the  Grange;  thereby  clearly  showing 
that  it  does  not  propose  to  prevent  members  of  the  Order  from 
investigating  any  and  all  questions."  He  concludes,  however, 
that  "the  restriction  intended  by  this  paragraph  is  to  prevent  the 
Grange  from  becoming  a  political  party.  This  was  surely  a  very 
wise  provision,  and  should  always  be  strictly  adhered  to."  After 
which  he  adds:  "A  National  farmers'  organization  without  the 
power  to  discuss  the  political  rights  of  its  members  would  be  a 
farce  beneath  the  dignity  of  intelligent  men.  The  farmers  want 
an  organization  that  will  use  its  influence  upon  the  legislatures, 
state  and  national,  to  protect  their  interests,  just  as  other  class 
organizations  protect  the  rights  of  their  members;  and  no  organ- 
ization can  long  maintain  standing  with  them  if  it  does  not  render 
such  assistance." 

After  making  a  number  of  quotations  from  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  National  Grange,  he  said : 

"Many  other  quotations  from  the  proceedings  might  be  made 
to  show  that  the  remedy  proposed  by  the  National  Grange  for 
our  relief  is  to  use  the  ballot  in  order  that  our  class  may  be  fairly 
and  fully  represented  in  the  state  and  national  legislatures." 

After  considerable  further  discussion  of  the  ability 
of  the  people  to  govern  themselves,  he  made  this  mil- 
itant declaration  to  call  the  "embattled  farmers" 
to  action : 

"We  have  been  trying  resolutions  and  petitions  long  enough, 
and  to  little  effect.  Let  us  try  the  remedy  that  has  been  sug- 
gested at  nearly  every  session  of  the  National  Grange;  let  us, 
with  our  ballots,  send  men  to  the  legislatures,  state  and  national, 
who  will  equalize  and  reduce  taxation,  restrain  corporations  from 
oppressing  the  people;  have  the  finances  managed  in  the  in- 
terest of  the  people;  keep  our  public  domain  for  actual  settlers; 
prevent  gamblers  from  pricing  our  productions  and  extend  the 
same  protection  to  the  farmer  and  the  manufacturer.  For  this 
great  work  the  Grange  was  organized,  and  it  was  not  born  to  die, 
nor  will  it  fail  in  the  accomplishment  of  its  purposes." 

This  seems  to  have  been  the  position  of  the  Grange 
membership  at  the  time  these  declarations  were  so 
boldly  made. 


140  PATRONS   OF    HUSBANDRY 

In  the  very  next  paragraph  the  Worthy  Master  said : 
"Several  times  since  our  last  meeting  I  have  been  of- 
ficially consulted  relative  to  the  propriety  of  forming 
alliances  between  the  Grange  and  other  orders  and 
associations."  He  discreetly  declined  any  "entangling 
alliances,"  for  just  at  this  time  several  rival  farmers' 
organizations  were  actively  in  the  field  and  more  or  less 
committed  to  political  methods  of  righting  the  farmers' 
wrongs,  and  there  was  general  "pulse-feeling"  among 
them  with  a  view  to  getting  together  for  political  pur- 
poses. Whatever  else  may  be  said,  judging  from  what 
has  happened  to  other  farmers'  organizations,  the 
Grange  has  managed  to  save  its  life  by  keeping  off  the 
thin  ice  of  political  expediency. 

The  Worthy  Treasurer  reported  total  receipts  from 
all  sources  $66,482.78,  including  the  sale  of  United 
States  bonds  which  brought  $50,937.50.  Total  ex- 
penditures, $55,333.44,  including  "Mortgage  Invest- 
ment" of  $42,050,  leaving  a  balance  of  $11,149.34. 

Ninety-one  new  Granges  were  organized  during  the 
year,  one  more  than  the  year  before. 

The  only  change  made  in  salaries  for  the  next  year 
was  the  increase  in  the  salary  of  the  Secretary  from 
$800  to  $1,000  a  year. 

J.  H.  Brigham  was  re-elected  a  member  of  the  Ex- 
ecutive Committee. 

Resolutions  were  adopted  condemning  "speculation 
in  futures";  favoring  election  of  United  States  Sena- 
tors by  direct  vote  of  the  people ;  commending  to  work- 
ing people  this  sentiment  of  Lincoln :  "There  are  those 
who  think  that  monarchy  will  be  our  final  destiny,  and 
that  after  the  example  of  Europe  we  will  have  a  gov- 
erning class  and  a  working  class ;  let  all  working  men 
be  warned  that  in  such  a  state  of  society  there  is  little 
hope  of  advancement  for  such  as  they";  demanding 
the  punishment  of  bribery;  declaring  that  no  United 
States  Senator  "is  entitled  to  the  confidence  or  support 
of  the  people"  who  votes  to  confirm  as  Judge  of  the 


put  darden's  administration,  1886-1887       141 

Supreme  Court  anyone  who  owns  stock  in,  or  is  in  any 
way,  interested  pecuniarily  in  any  railroad  corporation 
or  is  an  attorney  for  the  same ;  demanding  the  rebuild- 
ing of  our  merchant  marine;  asking  Congress  to  pass 
such  laws  as  shall  furnish  the  benefits  of  the  signal 
service  to  the  farmers  of  the  country ;  declaring  that  it 
is  the  duty  of  Congress  to  establish  and  maintain  a 
national  telegraph  system  that  shall  be  available  to  all 
citizens  on  like  terms  and  charges  and  indorsing  the 
Hatch  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  Bill. 

The  Executive  Committee  also  reported  that  the 
Ritual  work  and  instructions  of  the  higher  degrees  of 
the  Order  had  been  completed  and  printed,  as  directed 
by  the  National  Grange.  Also  that  a  very  beautiful 
and  appropriate  certificate  of  membership  for  the 
Sixth  Degree  had  been  prepared  and  that  the  lithographs 
would  be  ready  to  be  delivered  to  all  members  who  had 
taken  that  degree  at  the  price  fixed  by  the  National 
Grange. 

The  Seventh  Degree  had  never  been  conferred  in  full 
form,  and  the  Sixth  only  once.  The  practice  had  been 
to  obligate  the  candidates,  explain  briefly  the  Ritual 
work,  and  instruct  in  the  esoteric  work;  and  no 
certificate  of  membership  had  been  given  and  no  fee 
charged.  On  the  third  day  of  the  session  the  Sixth 
Degree  was  conferred  by  Past  Master  Woodman  on 
502  candidates  in  due  form,  and  the  fee  of  $1  each  paid 
into  the  National  Treasury.  A  constitutional  amend- 
ment was  submitted  to  the  State  Granges  for  ratifica- 
tion to  authorize  State  Granges  to  confer  the  Sixth 
Degree,  also  an  amendment  to  permit  Pomona  Granges 
to  be  represented  in  the  State  Granges. 

A  summary  of  the  work  of  the  next  year  under 
the  direction  of  the  same  official  leaders  must  de- 
pend upon  the  Journal  of  the  twenty-first  session  of 
the  National  Grange,  which  met  at  Lansing,  Mich., 
November  16-24,  1887. 


I42  PATRONS  OF  HUSBANDRY 

All  the  officers  but  the  Steward,  Pomona  and  Lady- 
Assistant  Steward  were  present. 

Thirty-two  states  were  represented  by  the  same 
delegates  as  at  the  last  session,  except  as  follows :  Ala- 
bama, Hiram  Hawkins;  California,  W.  L.  and  Mrs. 
Overhiser;  Delaware,  A.  N.  and  Mrs.  Brown;  Kansas, 
Wm.  and  Mrs.  Sims;  Missouri,  D.  N.  and  Mrs.  Thomp- 
son ;  Nebraska,  O.  E.  and  Mrs.  Hall ;  New  Hampshire, 

C.  and  Mrs.  McDaniel;  Tennessee,  W.  H.  Nelson. 
Rhode  Island  was  represented  at  this  session  for  the 

first  time.    West  Virginia  and  Oregon  were  not  repre- 
sented, though  entitled  to  representation. 

The  Master's  address  was  delivered  in  open  session  to  a 
large  audience  on  the  evening  of  the  first  day.  He  spoke 
of  the  necessity  of  farmers'  organizations ;  of  the  Order 
of  Patrons  of  Husbandry  as  the  pioneer  organization ; 
influence  of  the  Grange  press  ;  the  good  results  from  the 
lecture  work ;  condition  of  American  farmers ;  neces- 
sity for  an  interstate  commerce  law;  encouraging 
prospects  of  the  final  passage  of  the  bill  then  pending 
before  Congress  to  elevate  the  agricultural  department 
for  which  the  Order  had  so  long  and  persistently 
labored;  of  the  "iniquitous  and  tyrannical"  patent 
law;  the  success  of  the  Order  in  testing  the  valid- 
ity of  the  "driven  well  fraud"  in  the  courts,  and  a  re- 
cent decision  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court, 
annulling  that  patent,  thereby  guaranteeing  the  right 
of  every  person  in  the  United  States  to  use  driven  wells 
without  molestation  from  "patent  right  sharks."  He 
also  spoke  of  the  achievements  of  the  Grange ;  and  in 
solemn  and  pathetic  words  announced  the  death  of 

D.  Wyatt  Aiken  of  South  Carolina,  who,  after  a 
long  and  painful  sickness,  died  April  6,  1887,  at  his  home 
in  Cokesburg,  S.  C.  At  the  close  of  his  address,  he  read 
a  tribute  to  the  memory,  services,  moral  worth  and 
exalted  Christian  character  of  the  deceased,  from  the 
pen  of  Dr.  John  Trimble,  Secretary  of  the  National 
Grange,  and  one  of  the  Founders  of  the  Order. 


put  darden's  administration,  1886-1887       143 

The  Treasurer's  report  showed  total  receipts  for  the 
year,  $22,858.90,  and  total  expenditures  $14,805.15, 
leaving  a  balance  of  $8,053.75.  The  Grange  had  mani- 
festly struck  the  up  grade.  Secretary  Trimble  in  his 
report  said:  "The  official  year  which  closed  on  the 
30th  of  September  was  a  grand  and  prosperous  year 
for  the  Order.  During  the  year  143  new  Granges  were 
organized." 

Commissioner  of  Agriculture  Norman  J.  Colman, 
who  was  an  active  Patron  and  Master  of  Potomac 
Grange,  Washington,  D.  C.,  attended  the  session,  and 
was  invited  to  address  the  body.  Among  other  things 
he  said:  "I  have  no  policy  to  present  to  you.  I  am 
your  servant.  I  recognize  you  as  a  representative 
body  of  farmers,  that,  permit  me  to  say,  without  flat- 
tery, is  the  equal  of  any  body  I  have  ever  met,  and  com- 
pares favorably  with  Congress  itself.  It  is  for  you  to 
indicate  what  the  farmers  of  this  country  desire." 

After  telling  what  the  department  was  doing  and 
planning  to  do,  in  a  very  interesting  manner,  he  con- 
cluded by  saying:  "If  the  Department  of  Agriculture 
could  be  kept  for  agriculture  alone,  I  would  favor  the 
measure  of  having  its  head  a  member  of  the  President's 
Cabinet,  but  if  the  Labor  Bureau,  the  Bureau  of  Edu- 
cation and  several  other  Bureaus  be  attached  to  it,  I 
feel  we  will  be  better  served  and  better  satisfied  under 
existing  laws." 

When  the  office  of  Secretary  of  Agriculture  was 
created  in  1889,  Mr.  Colman  was  for  a  short  term  the 
first  secretary.  Throughout  his  career  Mr.  Colman 
was  always  in  hearty  sympathy  with  the  farmers. 

Resolutions  were  adopted  favoring  legislation  on 
pure  food ;  favoring  settlement  of  national  difficulties 
by  arbitration ;  denouncing  gambling  in  "futures" ;  de- 
manding that  taxation  be  equalized  ;  favoring  the  better 
protection  of  raw  materials  raised  by  the  American 
farmers ;  favoring  adequate  appropriations  for  agricul- 


144  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY, 

tural  colleges;    and  strengthening    of  the    Interstate 
Commerce  Law. 

As  a  beginning  of  the  great  battle  for  parcels  post, 
"the  National  Grange  favors  further  reduction  of  the 
rate  of  postage  on  articles  of  the  fourth  class,  which 
covers  agricultural  seeds  and  productions,  and  asks 
that  there  shall  be  such  changes  in  reductions  as  will 
give  the  farmers  of  the  country  the  same  cheap  service 
as  is  employed  by  Canada  and  other  nations." 

The  committee  reports  made  at  this  session  showed 
that  the  members  of  the  Grange  had  a  wide  grasp  of 
public  and  economic  questions. 

The  practice  of  holding  memorial  services  on  Sun- 
day afternoon  during  the  National  Grange  session  was 
begun  at  this  session. 

The  Sixth  Degree  was  conferred  on  423  candidates, 
and  the  Seventh  on  17  candidates.  The  Executive 
Committee  was  instructed  to  make  a  contract  with 
J.  R.  Thompson  for  preparing  a  complete  manual 
of  the  ritualism  of  the  Seventh  Degree;  and  the 
High  Priest  was  instructed  to  provide  the  neces- 
sary paraphernalia  for  conferring  that  degree  in  full 
form  at  the  next  session.  It  was  also  ordered  that  a 
fee  of  $1  be  charged  each  candidate  receiving  the  de- 
gree, to  be  paid  into  the  National  Grange  treasury,  and 
that  a  suitable  lithographic  certificate  be  prepared  and 
delivered  to  each  candidate.  It  was  decided  that  the 
National  Grange  should  continue  to  confer  the  Sixth 
Degree  upon  all  candidates  desiring  it,  and  the  fees 
be  paid  into  the  national  treasury ;  but  when  conferred 
by  a  State  Grange,  the  fees  were  to  be  equally  divided 
between  the  State  and  National  Granges,  the  latter 
to  provide  and  issue  the  certificates.  The  policy  of 
conferring  the  higher  degrees  in  due  form  has  done 
much  to  popularize  the  Order,  and  added  somewhat  to 
the  receipts  of  the  National  Grange.  The  delibera- 
tions of  the  session  were  harmonious  throughout.  Al- 
though differences  of  opinion  existed,  they  were  har- 


put  darden's  administration,  1886-1887       145 

monized  in  the  true  spirit  of  fraternity,  thereby 
demonstrating  that  broad  principle  laid  down  in  the 
Declaration  of  Purposes  of  the  Order,  that  "difference 
of  opinion  is  no  crime,  and  that  progress  toward  truth 
is  made  by  differences  of  opinion,  while  the  fault  lies 
in  the  bitterness  of  controversy." 


CHAPTER  XIII 

Put  Darden's,  James  Draper's  and  J.  H.  Brigham's 

Administrations — Darden's  Second  Term — Died  July 

17,    1888 — Draper    Served    Five    Months — Brigham 

One  Year — Two  Years,  1 888-1 889— Twenty-Second 

and  Twenty-Third  Sessions  of  the  National  Grange 

Officers  elected  at  the  twenty-first  session,  Novem- 
ber, 1887: 

Master — Put  Darden,  Mississippi. 
Overseer — James  Draper,  Massachusetts. 
Lecturer — Mortimer  Whitehead,  New  Jersey. 
Steward — X.  X.  Chartters,  Virginia. 
Assistant  Steward — J.  H.  Hale,  Connecticut. 
Chaplain — A.  J.  Rose,  Texas. 
Treasurer — F.  M.  McDowell,  New  York. 
Secretary — John  Trimble,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Gatekeeper — A.  N.  Brown,  Delaware. 
Ceres — Mrs.  K.  A.  Darden,  Mississippi. 
Pomona — Mrs.  J.  C.  Draper,  Massachusetts. 
Flora — Mrs.  M.  E.  Luce,  Michigan. 
Lady  Assistant  Steward— Mrs.  H.  A.  Sims,  Kansas. 
Members  of  the  Executive  Committee — J.  J.  Woodman,  Michi- 
gan; J.  M.  Blanton,  Virginia;  J.  H.  Brigham,  Ohio. 

The  Worthy  Master  began  the  year's  work  with  zeal 
and  determination  to  make  1888  a  great  year  in  Grange 
history,  but  on  the  17th  day  of  July  of  that  year  he 
was  called  from  the  labors  of  this  life  to  the  life  be- 
yond. This  is  the  only  time  in  the  50  years  of  Grange 
history  that  a  Master  of  the  National  Grange  has  died 
during  his  term  of  office.  His  entire  service  as  Master 
of  the  National  Grange  covered  a  little  less  than  two 
years  and  seven  months.  By  the  death  of  the  Worthy 
Master,  Worthy  Overseer  James  Draper  of  Massa- 
chusetts became  Master  and  served  until  the  close  of 
the  next  annual  session,  a  period  of  about  five  months. 
The  death  of  the  Master  did  much  to  disorganize  the 

146 


darden's,  draper's,  brigham's  administrations  147 

plans  for  the  year,  but  the  new  Master  promptly  took 
up  the  work  with  energy  and  ability.  It  became  his 
duty  to  preside  over  the  twenty-second  session  of  the 
National  Grange,  which  met  at  Topeka,  Kan.,  Novem- 
ber 14-21,  1888. 

Thirty-three  states  were  represented  by  the  follow- 
ing delegates : 

Alabama,  H.  and  Mrs.  Hawkins;  California,  W.  L. 
and  Mrs.  Overhiser;  Colorado,  L.  and  Mrs.  Booth; 
Connecticut,  J.  H.  and  Mrs.  Hale;  Georgia,  T.  H.  and 
Mrs.  Kimbrough;  Illinois,  J.  M.  and  Mrs.  Thompson; 
Indiana,  M.  and  Mrs.  Trusler;  Iowa,  J.  E.  and  Mrs. 
Blackford;  Kansas,  Wm.  and  Mrs.  Sims;  Kentucky, 
J.  D.  and  Mrs.  Clardy;  Maine,  F.  and  Mrs.  Robie; 
Maryland,  H.  M.  and  Mrs.  Murray;  Massachusetts, 
H.  A.  and  Mrs.  Barton;  Michigan,  Thos.  and  Mrs. 
Mars;  Mississippi,  J.  B.  and  Mrs.  Bailey;  Minnesota, 
W.  S.  Chowen;  Missouri,  A.  E.  and  Mrs.  Page;  Ne- 
braska, O.  E.  and  Mrs.  Hall;  New  Hampshire,  C.  and 
Mrs.  McDaniel;  New  Jersey,  R.  and  Mrs.  Coles;  New 
York,  W.  A.  Armstrong;  North  Carolina,  W.  R. 
Williams;  Ohio,  J.  H.  Brigham;  Oregon,  H.  E.  and 
Mrs.  Hayes;  Pennsylvania,  L.  and  Mrs.  Rhone; 
Rhode  Island,  J.  G.  and  Mrs.  Peckham;  South  Caro- 
lina, W.  K.  and  Mrs.  Thompson;  Texas,  A.  J.  and 
Mrs.  Rose;  Tennessee,  W.  H.  and  Mrs.  Nelson;  Ver- 
mont, Alpha  Messer;  Virginia,  X.  X.  and  Mrs.  Chart- 
ters ;  West  Virginia,  J.  E.  Hall ;  Wisconsin,  S.  C.  and 
Mrs.  Carr. 

It  was  a  somewhat  embarrassing  position  that 
Worthy  Master  Draper  found  himself  in  at  the  open- 
ing of  the  National  Grange  when  so  suddenly  called 
upon  to  shoulder  the  responsibility  which  had  been 
delegated  to  another;  but  right  ably  did  he  shoulder 
the  responsibility.  The  Acting  Master  read  his  ad- 
dress, prefacing  it  as  follows : 

"The  sad  event  that  compels  me  at  this  time  to  present  to 
you  the  Master's  annual  address  is  still  so  fresh  in  your  minds 


I48  PATRONS  OF    HUSBANDRY 

that  it  need  not  be  recalled.  That  vacant  chair,  draped  in  the 
emblems  of  mourning,  proclaims  in  silent  language,  "The  Master 
of  the  National  Grange  is  dead!'  It  is  hard  to  realize  that  the 
erect  form  that  stood  before  us  one  year  ago  now  lies  in  the  silent 
city  of  the  dead,  and  that  the  clear,  musical  tones  of  that  voice  so 
familiar  to  many  of  us  in  the  councils  of  this  body  for  the  past 
eleven  years  is  now  hushed  in  the  stillness  of  death.  With  every 
changing  stage  of  our  proceedings  we  shall  awaken  to  a  fuller 
realization  of  the  loss  this  National  Grange  has  sustained  in  the 
death  of  our  tried  and  faithful  brother  and  leader,  Put  Darden." 

His  address  compared  favorably  with  those  that  had 
gone  before,  and  if  it  is  to  be  taken  as  a  measure  of  the 
man,  no  mistake  would  have  been  made  if  he  had  been 
continued  as  Master;  but  it  was  not  to  be,  and  this  was 
the  only  session  of  the  National  Grange  over  which 
he  ever  presided  as  Master. 

He  recited  at  some  length  a  history  of  the  efforts 
that  had  been  made  to  create  the  office  of  Secretary 
of  Agriculture  and  make  it  a  Cabinet  position,  which 
he  said  was  furnished  by  Hon.  W.  H.  Hatch  of  Mis- 
souri. In  a  statesmanlike  manner  he  discussed  the 
trusts,  pure  food,  tariff,  Hatch  experiment  stations, 
agricultural  colleges,  and  many  matters  of  internal 
interest  to  the  order. 

The  Treasurer's  report  showed  that  the  total  receipts 
were  $22,473.67,  with  total  expenditures  of  $19,803.52, 
and  a  balance  of  $2,670.15. 

In  their  report  the  Executive  Committee  had  this  to 
say:  "The  funds  of  the  National  Grange  consist  of 
the  following:  Invested  in  real  estate  mortgages, 
$42,000;  in  personal  security,  call  loans,  $3,000;  in 
trust  funds,  $5,742.80,  a  total  of  $50,742.80. 

"It  will  be  seen  that  our  permanent  investment 
amounts  to  $42,000,  which  is  $8,887.50  less  than  the 
amount  realized  from  the  sale  of  our  government 
bonds  in  1886,  and  the  available  fund  now  on  hand  is 
$8,742.80,  against  $12,179.07  for  the  corresponding  date 
of  1887.  It  is  quite  probable  that  this  fund  will  be 
increased  by  the  receipts  since  October  31,  yet  it  is 


DARDEN  S,  DRAPER  S,  BRIGHAM  S  ADMINISTRATIONS    I49 

clearly  to  be  seen  that  our  expenditures  have  largely 
exceeded  our  income  during  the  past  two  years ;  and 
that  the  fund  set  apart  from  the  sale  of  bonds,  in  ex- 
tending the  Order,  has  been  nearly  exhausted.  The 
Committee,  therefore,  recommend  that  no  appropria- 
tions be  made,  or  liabilities  incurred,  which  will  en- 
trench upon  our  permanent  investments,  and  that  for 
the  future  the  expenditures  of  the  National  Grange 
should  be  kept  within  its  income." 

Secretary  Trimble  reported  "the  official  year  which 
ended  September  30,  1888,  was  one  of  great  prosperity 
for  and  usefulness  by  the  Order.  During  the  year 
197  new  Granges  were  organized."  This  was  de- 
cidedly the  largest  number  of  new  Granges  organized 
in  one  year  for  a  good  many  years.  The  reports  made 
by  the  Masters  of  State  Granges  were  nearly  all  hope- 
ful and  breathed  a  spirit  of  encouragement.  Resolu- 
tions were  adopted  favoring  the  Australian  ballot  sys- 
tem ;  condemning  trusts ;  asking  Congress  to  protect 
the  people  from  the  encroachments  of  combinations 
and  trusts ;  asking  the  "passage  of  such  laws  as  shall 
forever  prohibit  gambling  in  the  necessaries  of  life ;" 
favoring  the  election  of  United  States  Senators  by 
direct  vote ;  still  insisting  that  the  head  of  the  Agricul- 
tural Department  should  be  a  member  of  the  President's 
Cabinet ;  favoring  the  classification  of  the  public  lands ; 
favoring  the  prevention  of  food  adulterations ;  issuing 
postal  money  orders  at  reduced  rates ;  favoring  further 
reduction  of  postage  on  seeds,  bulbs,  etc. ;  opposing  allow- 
ing aliens  to  acquire  title  to  land ;  favoring  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  national  forestry  police.  Many  other 
resolutions  were  adopted,  and  a  great  multitude  touch- 
ing upon  a  great  variety  of  subjects  were  discussed 
and  defeated  or  laid  away  for  another  session. 

As  instructed  at  the  preceding  session,  the  Execu- 
tive Committee  had  arranged  with  J.  R.  Thompson 
for  a  new  compilation  of  the  Seventh  Degree  Ritual, 
which  had  been  completed  and  placed  in  the  hands 


150  PATRONS  OF    HUSBANDRY 

of  the  Worthy  High  Priest.  The  Sixth  Degree 
manual  had  also  been  printed  in  book  form,  and  a  full 
set  of  the  same  sent  to  each  State  Grange  Master. 
The  ritual  work  of  the  Fifth  Degree  had  also 
been  revised,  the  Arcana  incorporated  into  the 
body  of  the  work,  with  opening  and  closing  ceremonies 
and  explanatory  notes,  and  a  neatly  bound  Fifth  De- 
gree manual  was  presented  to  the  Order.  There 
seemed  to  be  a  general  demand  that  the  First,  Second, 
Third  and  Fourth  Degrees  of  the  Order  be  so  combined 
as  to  admit  candidates  of  both  sexes  to  be  initiated 
together,  and  the  Executive  Committee  and  National 
Lecturer  were  constituted  a  commission  to  accomplish 
that  object.  The  commission  assigned  to  Mortimer 
Whitehead,  National  Lecturer,  the  duty  of  pre- 
paring the  work.  The  manuscript  was  critically 
examined  by  each  member  of  the  commission  and  sug- 
gestions made  and  noted.  When  completed,  the  work 
was  printed  and  proof  examined  by  the  commission 
and  unanimously  approved.  Plates  were  then  cast, 
and  a  full  set  of  the  work  sent  to  each  State  Master, 
with  instructions  to  test  the  same  in  initiating  can- 
didates in  Subordinate  Granges;  but  strictly  forbid- 
ding the  use  of  the  work  except  under  the  supervision, 
or  by  the  request  of  the  State  Masters,  until  adopted 
and  the  use  authorized  by  the  National  Grange.  The 
work  was  adopted  by  the  National  Grange,  and  in 
1889  the  seventh  edition  of  the  Fourth  Degree  manual 
was  published  with  the  combined  degrees  in  ritual 
work  included. 

Owing  to  the  death  of  Worthy  Master  Darden  the 
election  of  a  Master  for  the  unexpired  term  of  one 
year  was  ordered.  The  balloting  resulted  in  the  elec- 
tion of  J.  H.  Brigham  of  Ohio,  and  he  was  duly  in- 
stalled. Leonard  Rhone  of  Pennsylvania  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee. 

Worthy  Master  Brigham  was  a  strong,  forceful  man, 
and  he  at  once  threw  energy  into  the  year's  work  and 


darden's,  draper's,  brigham's  administrations  151 

to  bringing  the   Grange  into  public  confidence  and 
influence. 

The  twenty-third  session  of  the  National  Grange 
met  at  Sacramento,  Cal.,  November  13-20,  1889.  All 
the  officers  were  present  but  Ceres  and  Gatekeeper, 
Worthy  Master  J.  H.  Brigham  presiding. 

Thirty-one  states  were  represented  by  the  same 
delegates  as  at  the  last  session  except  as  follows : 

California,  E.  W.  Davis;  Delaware,  E.  H.  and  Mrs. 
Bancroft;  Massachusetts,  N.  B.  and  Mrs.  Douglas; 
New  Jersey,  John  Statesir;  Ohio,  S.  H.  and  Mrs.  Ellis; 
Washington,  D.  L.  and  Mrs.  Russell;  West  Virginia, 
C.  H.  Knott.  This  was  the  first  time  Washington  was 
represented  in  the  National  Grange.  Indiana,  New 
York,  Maryland  and  Tennessee  were  not  represented. 

Worthy  Master  J.  H.  Brigham  delivered  his  first 
"annual  address,"  in  which  he  presented  Grange  meas- 
ures and  policies  with  force  and  vigor.  He  discussed 
the  condition  of  the  Order,  necessity  for  organization, 
financial  benefits  of  organization,  direct  taxation,  in- 
direct taxation,  internal  revenue  tax,  patent  legislation, 
agriculture,  food  adulteration,  the  press,  woman's 
work,  intemperance,  lecture  work  and  other  subjects. 

On  the  subject  of  agricultural  experiment  stations 
he  said: 

"The  members  of  our  Order  have  been  active  in  securing  the 
establishment  of  agricultural  experiment  stations  in  the  several 
states  and  will  insist  that  the  money  appropriated  to  sustain  such 
be  wisely  expended.  To  secure  such  results  we  are  of  the  opinion 
that  the  boards  of  control  should  be  composed  of  progressive, 
practical  farmers.  No  one  not  thus  connected  directly  with  agri- 
culture can  thoroughly  understand  what  problems  need  the  most 
urgent  attention.  In  a  majority  of  the  states,  men  who  are  not 
practical  farmers  have  been  appointed  to  control  their  stations. 
This  is  an  insult  to  the  farmers  and  should  be  resented.  The 
executives  who  ignore  the  farmers  in  selecting  men  for  such 
positions  should  be  ignored  by  the  farmers  in  convention  and  at 
the  ballot  box.  In  no  other  way  can  we  secure  a  speedy  reform 
of  this  abuse.     The  argument  of  the  ballot  the  most  obtuse  poli- 


152  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

tician  can  understand,  and  none  are  so  high  that  they  can  afford 
to  disregard  its  plain  admonitions." 

That  Worthy  Master  Brigham  was  right  and  sound 
in  the  principle  enunciated  no  fair-minded  man  will 
dispute,  but  the  "insult"  continues  to  be  offered  to  the 
farmers  in  a  majority  of  the  states  with  increasing 
ratio.  In  referring  to  the  Department  of  Agriculture, 
he  said : 

"It  is  my  privilege  at  this  session  to  report  that  our  persever- 
ance has  been  rewarded.  The  Chief  of  the  Department  of  Agri- 
culture will  henceforth  be  a  trusted  adviser  of  the  President,  a 
position  from  which  he  can  at  all  times  secure  a  recognition  of  the 
chief  industry  of  our  country,  and  through  the  Executive  make 
such  recommendations  to  Congress  as  the  interests  of  agriculture 
may  demand." 

Secretary  of  Agriculture  Colman,  who  held  the  office 
for  a  few  weeks  only,  had  gone  out  with  the  change  of 
administration  on  March  4,  1889,  and  a  new  Secretary 
had  just  been  appointed.  After  discussing  the  sub- 
ject generally  the  Worthy  Master  goes  on  to  say: 

"It  was  the  farmer  that  we  desired  to  have  recognized  and  not 
any  designated  individual. 

"It  was  sincerely  hoped  that  the  known  wishes  of  this  large  body 
of  law-abiding,  industrious  citizens  would  have  weight  and  influ- 
ence with  the  President,  and  that  he  would  seek  out  from  among 
the  millions  who  till  the  soil  one  of  his  confidential  advisers.  We 
thought  we  had  good  reason  to  expect  this  recognition  in  the  per- 
son of  the  man  selected  to  watch  over  and  advise,  in  regard  to 
the  needs  of  agriculture.  It  did  not  seem  unreasonable  to  ask, 
inasmuch  as  in  no  other  department  was  recognition  expected. 
We  fully  and  cheerfully  acknowledge  the  high  character  and 
ability  of  the  gentleman  selected,  and  would  have  been  gratified  to 
see  him  in  any  of  the  departments  for  which  his  public  life  has 
fitted  him.  But  for  the  Department  of  Agriculture  we  wanted  a 
man  identified  directly  with  that  great  interest.  And  we  do  not 
hesitate  to  say  that  the  selection  of  one  who  has  never  been  con- 
sidered a  farmer  was  a  great  disappointment  to  those  who  for 
years  labored  and  waited  for  this  opportunity  to  secure  recogni- 
tion for  their  class. 

"Any  pretense  of  acquiescence  in  a  policy  which  thus  ignores  a 
class  representing  50  per  cent  of  our  people  to  serve  some  personal 


darden's,  draper's,  brigham's  administrations  153 

political  purpose  is  cowardly  in  the  extreme,  and  unworthy  of  a 
true  Patron.  I  have  spoken  thus  plainly,  knowing  that  my 
motives  may  be  misconstrued  and  that  unfriendly  criticism 
may  follow;  not  because  I  court  either,  but  because  of 
the  position  which  I  temporarily  occupy  as  the  chief  officer 
of  a  great  National  Farmers'  Organization.  I  am  fully 
determined  that  as  such  representative,  no  personal  considera- 
tion shall  restrain  me  when  the  rights  and  interests  of  the  farmers 
are  neglected.  I  have  no  apology  to  offer  for  the  extended  con- 
sideration of  this  subject.  We  have,  in  my  opinion,  reached  a 
crisis  in  our  history.  Not  to  speak  plainly  now  is  to  miss  the 
golden  opportunity  which  comes  but  once.  If  we  for  personal  or 
political  reasons  hesitate  or  hold  our  peace  now,  let  it  be  forever 
so  far  as  the  selection  of  the  head  of  the  Department  of  Agricul- 
ture is  concerned." 

The  Treasurer  reported  receipts,  $19,669.10;  total 
expenditures,  $16,297.28,  leaving  a  balance  of  $3,371.82. 

The  Secretary  reported  the  number  of  new  Granges 
organized  during  the  year  as  204,  the  largest  number 
in  any  one  year  since  1876.  The  lowest  mark  ever 
reached  was  17  in  1879.  The  increase  had  been  gradual 
but  continuous  since  that  time. 

Many  resolutions  were  adopted,  but  we  shall  only 
enumerate  a  few  of  them  which  tend  to  show  the  trend 
of  the  farmer  mind  at  the  time :  Urging  Congress  to 
enact  pure  food  laws ;  favoring  a  system  of  voting  simi- 
lar to  the  method  known  as  the  Australian  system; 
holding  firmly  to  the  wholesome  policy  that  it  is  the 
duty  of  Congress  and  the  legislatures  of  the  several 
States  to  restrain  corporations  created  by  law,  in  order 
to  secure  justice  and  equality  for  all;  that  the  public 
lands  are  the  heritage  of  the  people  and  should  be 
reserved  for  actual  settlers ;  opposing  trusts  and  the 
imposition  of  taxes  beyond  the  actual  needs  of  govern- 
ment. 

At  the  last  session  the  money  question  had  come  up, 
but  it  had  been  sent  over  to  this  session.  It  was  be- 
coming more  and  more  acute  in  the  public  mind. 


154  PATRONS  OF    HUSBANDRY 

The  following  resolution  was  introduced  at  this  session : 

"Whereas,  Contraction  of  the  circulating  medium  of  the 
United  States  has  depressed  the  prices  of  farm  products  to  the 
great  injury  of  the  agricultural  classes;  therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  we  favor  the  free  coinage  of  silver,  and  also 
favor  the  maintenance  in  circulation  of  the  paper  money  of  the 
United  States,  independent  of  the  national  banks,  in  sufficient 
volume  to  prevent  any  further  contraction  and  consequent  em- 
barrassment to  our  prosperity." 

On  an  aye  and  nay  vote  the  above  resolution  was 
adopted  29  to  9,  the  nine  negative  votes  coming  from 
Connecticut,  Maine,  Michigan  two  votes,  New  Hamp- 
shire two  votes,  New  York,  Rhode  Island  and  Vermont. 

Many  votes  of  thanks  were  extended  to  the  people  of 
California  who  had  helped  to  entertain  the  National 
Grange  on  its  first  visit  to  the  Pacific  Coast,  and  the 
entire  membership  returned  to  their  homes  greatly 
pleased  with  their  brief  view  of  the  "sunset  west"  and 
the  country  that  lies  between,  which  Joaquin  Miller 
called  "that  far  vast  land  that  few  behold  and  none 
beholding  understand." 


CHAPTER  XIV 

J.  H.  Brigham's  Administration — Second  Term,  Two 
Years,  1 890-1 891 — Twenty-Fourth  and  Twenty- 
Fifth  Sessions  of  the  National  Grange 

While  J.  H.  Brigham  had  served  as  Master  of  the 
National  Grange  for  one  year,  with  his  re-election  for 
the  full  term  at  the  twenty-third  session  he  began  more 
definitely  to  shape  the  policy  of  his  administration. 
Once  more  the  country  was  in  the  midst  of  an  agitation 
of  the  money  question,  and  the  reviving  Grange  found 
itself  in  the  midst  of  a  great  farmer  uprising  which 
was  manifesting  itself  through  several  farmers'  organ- 
izations leading  to  the  "Farmers'  Alliance  Movement," 
which  ultimately  culminated  in  the  organization  of  the 
"Populist  Party."  The  conditions  called  for  a  level 
head  and  loyal,  capable  leadership,  if  the  Grange  was 
to  be  saved  from  shipwreck,  for  eventually  all  the  other 
farmers'  organizations  of  that  day  did  shipwreck  on 
the  political  breakers. 

In  the  Grange  press  and  in  the  State  and  Subordinate 
Granges,  the  troublesome  issues  were  beginning  to 
manifest  themselves.  The  work  of  the  year  and  the 
policy  pursued  culminated  in  the  twenty-fourth  ses- 
sion of  the  National  Grange,  which  met  at  Atlanta, 
Ga.,  November  12-19,  1890.  All  the  officers  but  Flora 
were  present. 

Master — J.  H.  Brigham,  Ohio. 
Overseer — Hiram  Hawkins,  Alabama. 
Lecturer — Mortimer  Whitehead,  New  Jersey. 
Steward — E.  W.  Davis,  California. 
Assistant  Steward — O.  E.  Hall,  Nebraska. 
Chaplain — A.  J.  Rose,  Texas. 
Treasurer — F.  M.  McDowell,  New  York. 
Secretary — John  Trimble,  Washington,  D.  C. 

155 


I56  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

Gatekeeper — Ava  E.  Page,  Missouri. 

Ceres — Mrs.  Edna  Brigham,  Ohio. 

Pomona — Mrs.  M.  J.  Thompson,  Illinois. 

Flora — Mrs.  Joe  Bailey,  Mississippi. 

Lady  Assistant  Steward — Mrs.  L.  C.  Douglass,  Massachusetts. 

X.  X.  Chartters,  Virginia,  and  J.  J.  Woodman,  Michi- 
gan, were  elected  members  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee. 

The  following  32  states  were  represented: 
Alabama,  H.  and  Mrs.  Hawkins;  California,  E.  W. 
Davis;  Colorado,  L.  and  Mrs.  Booth;  Connecticut,  G. 
A.  and  Mrs.  Bowen ;  Delaware,  E.  H.  and  Mrs.  Ban- 
croft; Georgia,  T.  H.  and  Mrs.  Kimbraugh;  Illinois, 
J.  M.  and  Mrs.  Thompson;  Indiana,  M.  and  Mrs.  Trus- 
ler;  Iowa,  J.  E.  and  Mrs.  Blackford;  Kansas,  William 
and  Mrs.  Sims;  Maine,  R.  and  Mrs.  Prince;  Michigan, 
Thos.    and  Mrs.  Mars;    Mississippi,    J.  B.  and  Mrs. 
Bailey;  Maryland,  H.  M.  and  Mrs.  Murray;    Massa- 
chusetts, N.  B.  and  Mrs.  Douglas;  Missouri,  Ava.  E. 
Page;  North  Carolina,  W.  R.  Williams;  Nebraska,  O. 
E.  and  Mrs.  Hall;  New  Hampshire,  C.  and  Mrs.  Mc- 
Daniel ;  New  Jersey,  John  Statesir ;  New  York,  W.  C. 
and  Mrs.  Gifford;  Ohio,  S.  H.  and  Mrs.  Ellis;  Oregon, 
H.    E.    Hayes;    Pennsylvania,    L.    and    Mrs.    Rhone; 
Rhode  Island,  J.  G.  and  Mrs.  Peckham;  Texas,  A.  J. 
Rose;  Tennessee,  W.  H.  and  Mrs.  Nelson;  Vermont, 
Alpha  Messer;    Virginia,  X.  X.  Chartters;  Washing- 
ton, D.  L.  and  Mrs.  Russell;  West  Virginia,  C.  H.  and 
Mrs.  Knott;  Wisconsin,  S.  C.  and  Mrs.  Carr. 

This  was  the  fourth  and  last  time  the  National 
Grange  ever  met  in  the  South,  the  other  three  meetings 
being  at  Charleston.  S.  C,  Richmond,  Va.,  and  Nash- 
ville, Tenn. 

The  "address"  of  the  Worthy  Master  was  shorter 
than  usual  and  dealt  almost  entirely  in  generalities. 
He  outlined  the  work  of  the  "Legislative  Committee." 
Among  other  claims  made  for  the  Grange  was  that  in 
"the  restrictive  clause  requiring  the  annual  appropria- 


j.  h.  brigham's  second  term,  1890-1891       157 

tions  to  be  made  to  the  agricultural  colleges  to  be 
expended  only  in  instruction  in  agriculture  and  the 
mechanic  arts,  we  may  justly  claim  a  fair  share  of 
credit." 

"The  work  being  done  by  the  experiment  stations," 
said  the  Worthy  Master,  "is  an  important  one,  and 
every  encouragement  should  be  given  them." 

Major  J.  W.  A.  Wright,  author  of  the  Grange 
"Declaration  of  Purposes,"  attended  this  session  of 
the  National  Grange,  and  it  proved  to  be  the  last  time 
he  ever  attended.  He  was  given  a  hearty  welcome, 
and  in  response  he  made  a  brief  address,  from  which 
this  brief  paragraph  is  quoted: 

"But  permit  me  to  say  there  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  the 
Grange  has  been  the  parent  of  all  more  recent  movements,  which 
have  finally  made  farmers  freer,  made  their  voices  more  heeded 
in  matters  of  law  and  statesmanship,  and  aided  them  in  molding 
more  and  more  the  policy  of  our  Government." 

Later,  on  leaving  the  session,  Major  Wright  bade 
the  members  a  fraternal  farewell,  and  one  of  the 
dominating  characters  passed  out  of  Grange  life  and 
activities  forever. 

The  Worthy  Treasurer's  report  showed  total  receipts 
to  be  $23,730.24,  with  total  expenditures  of  $16,970.67, 
leaving  a  balance  of  $6,759.57.  It  was  manifest  that 
the  National  Grange  was  once  more  on  a  safe  financial 
basis  and  that  the  tide  was  slowly  rising. 

No  change  was  made  in  the  salaries  and  per  diem  of 
officers,  except  that  the  salary  of  the  Secretary  was 
raised  from  $1,000  to  $1,200  per  annum. 

The  Worthy  Secretary  reported  that  377  new 
Granges  had  been  organized  during  the  past  year, 
certainly  an  encouraging  increase  over  204  for  the  pre- 
ceding year. 

During  the  preceding  session  of  Congress  an  ag- 
gressive legislative  committee,  composed  of  J.  H. 
Brigham,  Leonard  Rhone  and  John  Trimble,  had 
placed  before  Congress  all  the  measures  which  had 


I58  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

been  indorsed  by  the  National  Grange.  The  Grange 
position  upon  the  tariff  question  was  declared  to  be 
"Protection  for  all  or  free  trade  for  all."  The  appoint- 
ment of  a  legislative  committee  had  now  become  a 
fixed  Grange  policy,  though  the  manner  of  its  selection 
had  been  variable. 

Resolutions  were  adopted  favoring  "postal  tele- 
graph," favoring  the  unlimited  coinage  of  silver,  con- 
demning the  "single  tax"  theory,  opposing  the  adul- 
teration of  food,  favoring  a  law  for  the  inspection  of 
cattle  and  hogs  at  all  slaughtering  and  packing  estab- 
lishments, favoring  "the  increase  of  the  circulating 
medium  up  to  $40  or  $50  per  capita,  favoring  the  erec- 
tion of  a  permanent  headquarters  building  at  Wash- 
ington. Many  other  motions  and  resolutions  were 
adopted  which  pertain  to  the  internal  work  of  the 
Order,  and  the  usual  grist  of  resolutions  proposing 
amendments  to  the  Constitution  and  By-Laws  was  in 
evidence,  but  none  of  these  are  of  general  interest. 
From  time  to  time  a  good  many  changes  had  been 
made  in  the  Constitution,  but  the  fundamental  laws 
of  the  Order  had  not  been  greatly  changed  since  1873. 
From  year  to  year  there  was  a  good  deal  of  repetition 
in  the  resolutions  offered,  but  at  least  they  show  the 
development  of  Grange  thought  and  action  as  great 
economic  problems  have  passed  across  the  public 
mind. 

Past  Master  J.  J.  Woodman,  in  a  newspaper  article, 
said  of  the  conditions  existing  at  the  time  of  the  At- 
lanta meeting: 

"Other  farmers'  organizations  have  sprung  up  all  over  the 
country,  and  in  some  of  the  states  sapping  the  very  life  blood  of 
the  Order,  as  the  following  from  a  letter  sent  to  the  Master  of 
the  National  Grange  by  J.  D.  Clardy,  Master  of  the  Kentucky 
State  Grange,  will  show:  'On  account  of  the  rapid  increase  of 
the  alliance  movement  in  Kentucky,  now  numbering  about  100,- 
000,  Grange  work  is  at  a  standstill.' 

"The  same  conditions  existed  in  some  of  the  other  southern 
states,  although  seven  of  them  were  represented  in  the  National 


j.  h.  brigham's  second  term,  1890-1891       159 

Grange.  In  the  North,  the  Patrons  of  Industry,  an  organization 
modeled  somewhat  after  the  Grange,  with  a  membership  fee  so 
low  as  to  admit  anyone  who  desired  to  become  a  member  for 
mere  curiosity,  if  no  other  motive  to  do  so,  and  like  the  Alliance 
having  a  strong,  political  bearing,  was  drawing  seriously  from  the 
membership  of  the  Grange.  Thomas  Mars,  Master  of  the  Michi- 
gan State  Grange,  in  his  report  to  the  National  Grange,  said : 
'About  three  years  ago  our  state  was  invaded  with  a  new  organ- 
ization called  the  Patrons  of  Industry,  which  passed  over  the  state 
rapidly,  organizing  in  nearly  every  school  district.  The  cheapness 
of  the  fee,  trade  arrangements,  etc.,  gave  it  a  boom  unprecedented 
in  the  history  of  organizations.'  He  expressed  the  opinion  that 
its  career  would  soon  terminate,  and  that  farmers  and  their  wives 
would  return  to  the  Grange,  which  proved  to  be  true. 

"Other  farmers'  organizations,  too  numerous  to  mention,  were 
gaining  influence  and  members  in  other  states,  drawing  from  the 
membership  of  the  Granges,  and  in  some  instances  whole  Granges 
surrendered  their  charters  and  affiliated  with  the  new  organiza- 
tions. While  not  opposing  the  new  organizations,  State  Grange 
Masters  and  officers  worked  bravely  to  save  the  Grange  member- 
ship and  organizations,  and  in  some  of  the  states  succeeded  well, 
but  in  others  the  tide  was  too  strong  to  stem.  It  will  be  under- 
stood that  the  National  Grange  was  in  session  in  Georgia,  a  cen- 
tral southern  state,  and  the  state  legislature  was  in  session  at  the 
same  time.  A  United  States  Senator  was  to  be  elected.  The 
Alliance  had  become  so  strong  in  the  state,  and  had  so  many  of  its 
members  and  sympathizers  in  the  legislature,  that  it  ventured  to 
put  up  a  candidate  against  General  Gordon,  the  regular  political 
candidate.  The  contest  was  waged  with  strife  and  bitterness 
seldom  if  ever  before  witnessed  in  such  an  election.  But  the 
politicians  won,  and  General  Gordon  was  elected.  The  effect  of 
that  election  and  the  influence  of  the  Alliance  in  the  state  carried 
the  State  Grange  into  dormancy,  and  it  has  not  since  been  repre- 
sented in  the  National  Grange. 

"Similar  influences  were  at  work  in  all  of  the  southern  states. 
The  Farmers'  Alliance  had  been  merged  into  a  political  party  and 
a  platform  of  principles  adopted.  Some  of  the  members  of  the 
National  Grange  were  in  full  sympathy  with  the  Alliance  and  the 
new  political  movement — and  that  influence  permeated  the  de- 
liberations of  that  body.  The  financial  policy  of  the  government, 
which  had  become  a  partisan  measure,  was  decided  to  be  a  proper 
subject  for  discussion  and  action  by  the  National  Grange.  It  became 
evident  that  no  action  of  the  National  Grange  could  impede  the 
work  and  influence  of  the  Alliance  in  the  southern  states,  and  that 
it  must  be  left  to  run  its  course  and  make  its  history,  believing 


l60  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

that  in  time  a  reaction  would  take  place,  and  that  our  mem- 
bers would  return  to  the  Grange  as  the  only  hope  for  Amer- 
ican farmers  to  secure  and  maintain  their  position  and  equal 
rights  in  social  life,  educational  advantages,  business  relations, 
political  influence,  and  proprietorship  of  the  soil  they  cultivate. 
The  tillers  of  the  soil  must  and  will  learn  that  in  order  to  acquire 
these  natural  and  important  rights  through  an  organization,  sec- 
tarian and  partisan  questions  must  not  be  discussed  in  the  delib- 
erations of  its  assemblies. 

"While  the  low  condition  of  the  Order  in  some  of  the  southern 
and  western  states  is  to  be  deplored,  no  one  can  say  that  it  has 
been  caused  through  any  neglect  of  the  National  Grange  or  its 
officers;  and  I  know  of  my  own  knowledge,  that  in  most  cases  the 
State  Grange  Masters  and  officers  have  done  all  in  their  power 
to  prevent  the  decline  in  their  respective  states.  Influences  be- 
yond the  control  of  the  National  and  State  Granges  have  done 
the  work. 

"But  these  clouds  have  disappeared  and  a  brighter  day  has 
dawned.  Our  Order  has  a  clear  field  and  is  stronger,  better  or- 
ganized and  more  prosperous  than  ever  before.  It  has  kept 
steadily  on  its  course,  surmounting  every  obstacle,  and  accom- 
plishing great  good  for  the  American  farmers.  A  reviving  spirit 
seems  to  be  awakening  in  the  weak  and  dormant  states,  and  it  is 
confidently  believed  that  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  every 
state  in  the  Union  will  be  enrolled  under  the  National  Grange 
banner,  and  be  represented  in  its  councils." 

Leonard  Rhone  of  Pennsylvania  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Executive  Committee  to  succeed  himself. 

The  twenty-fifth  session  of  the  National  Grange  met 
at  Springfield,  O.,  November  n  to  19,  1891.  All  the 
officers  were  present,  and  31  states  were  represented 
by  the  same  delegates  as  at  the  last  session,  except  as 
follows : 

Delaware,  J.  C.  Higgins ;  Kentucky,  J.  D.  and  Mrs. 
Clardy;  Maine,  M.  B.  and  Mrs.  Hunt;  Mississippi,  S. 
L.  and  Mrs.  Wilson;  Rhode  Island,  A.  M.  and  Mrs. 
Belcher;  Texas,  John  B.  Long. 

Worthy  Master  Brigham  delivered  his  annual  ad- 
dress. He  declared  a  fundamental  truth  when  he  said  : 
"We  believe  an  organization  of  farmers  an  absolute 
necessity  in  this  country.  We  also  believe  in  leaders 
who  are  thoroughly  identified  with  agricultural  inter- 


j.  h.  brigham's  second  term,  1890-1891       161 

ests — none    others    are    wanted."     Then    followed    a 
prophecy  which  came  to  pass: 

"When  the  agitation  now  going  on  has  brought  all  of  the  scum 
to  the  surface  to  be  brushed  aside,  as  it  will  be,  the  determination 
among  farmers  to  have  what  is  theirs  by  right  will  still  remain, 
and  that  organization  which  stands  steadfastly  for  principles 
which  are  eternal  will  be  found  riding  serenely  on  smooth  waters, 
when  organizations  committed  to  impracticable  propositions  and 
unwise  methods  in  forcing  their  theories  upon  the  public,  will 
have  disappeared  beneath  the  waves  of  popular  displeasure." 

"Upon  matters  and  questions  pertaining  to  our  Order,  its 
laws,  constitution  and  usages,  the  decision  of  the  National  Grange 
is  final,"  and  those  who  do  not  wish  to  be  thus  governed  can  hon- 
orably sever  their  connection  with  the  Order." 

Then  followed  what  may  be  called  a  declaration  of 

independence : 

"We  should  not  lose  sight  of  the  cardinal  principles  of  our 
Order,  viz.,  the  absolute  political  and  religious  freedom  of  the 
individual.  No  official,  not  even  our  National  body,  can  place 
restrictions  upon  this  freedom.  Officials  may  give  expression  to 
individual  views.  A  majority  of  the  members  of  the  National 
Grange  may  indorse  certain  propositions  involving  questions  of 
political  economy  affecting  the  material  interests  of  citizens,  such 
as  tariff  or  finance,  but  in  no  case  is  a  member  of  our  Order 
bound  by  such  action  or  expression  of  opinion  unless  his  own 
judgment  shall  approve. 

"The  membership  of  the  Grange  can  be  committed  to  no  party, 
to  no  individual,  to  no  religious  creed,  to  no  political  theory  or 
policy,  by  any  act  of  any  official,  or  by  any  resolution  adopted  by 
Subordinate,  State  or  National  Grange.  Any  other  position  upon 
these  propositions  means  disintegration  and  death. 

"This  need  not  hinder  discussion  nor  expression  of  opinion 
by  members  acting  individually  or  collectively.  All  measures 
which  are  of  especial  interest  to  farmers  should  be  viewed  from 
all  points.  Give  the  people  the  benefit  of  any  phase  of  opinion, 
and  then  they  can  draw  intelligent  conclusions. 

"Absolute  freedom  of  opinion,  upon  all  public  questions,  is  a 
right  not  restricted  but  rather  guaranteed  and  protected  by  the 
fundamental  law  of  our  Order." 

This  enunciation  of  the  Worthy  Master  might  De 
considered  an  "individual  opinion,"  but  later  in  the 
session  it  was  specifically  approved,  and  it  has  ever 


162  PATRONS  OF    HUSBANDRY 

since  been  considered  the  position  of  the  Grange  as  a 
clear  statement  of  what  was  embodied  in  the  organic 
law  of  the  Order.  That  any  other  policy  would  have 
meant  anything  but  "disintegration  and  death"  can 
hardly  be  doubted. 

Just  at  that  time  a  good  many  theories  and  doctrines 
on  the  money  question  were  being  promulgated  by 
some  farmers'  organizations  and  political  parties,  and 
it  seems  to  have  been  with  these  questions  in  mind 
that  the  Worthy  Master  made  the  above  statements. 
He  devoted  considerable  time  to  a  discussion  of  "the 
money  question"  in  general  and  "the  sub-treasury 
proposition"  and  "the  land  loan  proposition,"  which 
were  being  urged  by  a  large  farmers'  organization  in 
particular.     Referring  to  these  questions,  he  said: 

"The  discussion  of  all  these  propositions  should  not  be  dis- 
couraged, as  out  of  discussion  may  come  light  and  help  for  the 
needy.  It  is  not,  however,  advisable  for  the  National  Grange  to 
lend  its  powerful  indorsement  to  propositions  which  have  not 
been  thoroughly  digested  by  our  members  and  which  may  lead  to 
dissension  in  our  ranks." 

The  whole  address  was  full  of  vigorous  thought.  He 
briefly  discussed  taxation,  and  called  attention  to  the 
fact  that  "many  of  our  officials  seem  to  forget  that  low 
prices  for  farm  produce  mean  diminished  ability  to 
meet  the  tax  burden.  They  should  be  taught  a  needed 
lesson.  Every  unnecessary  expense  should  be  lopped 
off,  and  no  new  schemes  for  expending  public  funds 
should  be  encouraged." 

He  indorsed  "postal  telegraph"  and  said  "the  farm- 
ers are  also  asking  to  have  the  free  delivery  of  mail 
matter  extended  to  rural  neighborhoods.  Much  can 
be  urged  in  support  of  both  these  propositions,  and  I 
commend  them  to  your  consideration." 

That  infallible  test  of  Grange  prosperity,  the  Worthy 
Treasurer's  report,  showed  the  total  receipts  for  the 
year,  $24,418.86;  total  expenditures,  $17,677.14,  leav- 
ing a  balance  of  $6,741.72. 


j.  h.  brigham's  second  term,  1890-1891        163 

The  Executive  Committee's  report  showed  that 
the  "Mortgage  Investment"  had  been  raised  from 
$42,000  to  $43,200,  and  the  sensible  comment  followed : 
"The  policy  of  the  National  Grange  in  maintaining 
a  permanent  fund,  amply  secured,  is  to  be  commended ; 
and  the  committee  is  unanimous  in  the  opinion  that 
this  reserved  fund  can  and  should  be  increased  from 
year  to  year.  Such  a  policy  would  give  character, 
confidence  and  stability  to  the  Order;  for  the  pros- 
perity and  perpetuity  of  all  organizations  for  benefit- 
ing mankind  depend  largely  upon  their  financial  ability 
and  standing." 

The  Secretary  reported  the  organization  of  243  new 
Granges  during  the  year,  a  great  many  dormant 
Granges  reorganized  and  the  membership  generally 
increased,  as  was  shown  by  the  largely  increased 
receipts  from  State  Granges. 

Among  the  many  resolutions  passed  were  these : 
Asking  the  President  not  to  appoint  corporation 
lawyers  as  judges  of  the  United  States  courts,  favor- 
ing the  extension  of  free  mail  delivery  to  the  rural  dis- 
tricts, favoring  Postal  Savings  banks,  condemning 
the  liquor  traffic,  demanding  an  amendment  to  the  Na- 
tional Constitution  providing  for  the  election  of  United 
States  Senators  by  direct  vote  of  the  people,  declaring 
that  all  legal  tender  money  should  stand  upon  equal 
footing  in  its  capacity  and  power  to  pay  debts,  asking 
for  the  separation  of  classical  and  agricultural  colleges. 

The  reports  of  officers  and  numerous  committee  re- 
ports brought  out  many  phases  of  the  questions  and 
problems  that  were  at  that  time  agitating  the  public 
mind,  and  no  question  developed  more  difference  of 
opinion  or  more  long-drawn-out  discussion  than  "the 
money  question,"  which  was  to  cut  such  a  prominent 
figure  in  the  National  political  campaign  five  years 
later. 

This  twenty-fifth  session  of  the  National  Grange 
was  making  history,  and  the  State  and  Subordinate 


I64  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

Granges  throughout  the  country  were  alive  and  alert 
on  the  drift  of  public  affairs. 

E.  W.  Davis  of  California  offered  the  following 
resolution,  which  was  adopted: 

"That  the  Worthy  Master  be,  and  he  is  hereby  authorized  to, 
appoint  a  committee  of  three  Brothers  and  two  Sisters,  whose  duty 
it  shall  be  to  prepare  a  Proclamation  urging  the  membership 
everywhere  to  join  in  a  hearty  and  proper  celebration  of  the 
twenty-fifth  anniversary  (December  4,  1891)  of  the  founding  of 
the  Order  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  etc." 

In  compliance  with  this  resolution  the  Worthy  Mas- 
ter appointed  the  following  committee :  E.  W.  Davis, 
M.  B.  Hunt,  J.  B.  Long,  Mrs.  Isabel  Trusler  and  Mrs. 
Laura  C.  Douglas.  On  motion,  the  Worthy  Master 
and  the  Worthy  Lecturer  were  added  to  this  com- 
mittee. 

The  next  day  the  committee  reported  the  following 
Proclamation,  which  sums  up  in  a  comprehensive  way 
the  achievements  of  the  Grange  during  the  quarter 
century  of  its  existence. 

PROCLAMATION  GREETING 

Patrons  of  America: 

The  National  Grange  sends  happy  greeting.  Our  Order  is 
about  to  celebrate  its  silver  wedding — twenty-fifth  anniversary. 
You  are  cordially  invited  to  the  wedding  ceremony,  which,  it  is 
hoped,  will  be  held  in  the  hall  of  your  own  Grange  on  the  4th 
of  Dec,  1891,  or  at  the  regular  meeting  of  your  Grange  held 
nearest  that  date.  Be  sure  to  give  due  observance  to  this  celebra- 
tion. The  National  Grange  requests  every  Subordinate  under 
its  jurisdiction  to  observe  this  grand  event.  Let  music,  joy, 
thanksgiving,  and  brotherly  love  prevail ;  let  all  that  is  noble 
in  you  come  forth;  hide  no  light  beneath  the  bushel;  stand  like 
a  bold,  free,  sincere  Patron  and  espouse  the  cause  of  an  Order 
that  cares  for  its  sick  and  distressed,  buries  its  dead,  educates 
its  orphans,  plants  milestones  on  the  roadside  of  justice,  de- 
mands equity  before  the  law  for  high  and  low,  believes  in  arbi- 
tration rather  than  litigation,  knows  no  section  and  no  sex,  is 
fearless  but  not  overforward,  is  faithful  in  its  devotion  to  the 
pure  principles  of  temperance,  education,  patriotism,  and  be- 
lieves the  calling  of  agriculture  is  the  noblest  of  all  vocations. 


j.  h.  brigham's  second  term,  18901891       165 

The  National  Grange  again  greets  you,  and,  for  cause  of  re- 
joicing, submits  for  your  careful  consideration  as  some  of  its 
many  accomplishments  during  the  first  quarter  centennial  of 
its  existence  the  following: 

1.  The  Grange  has  organized  the  farmers  of  America  who 
never  before  were  organized. 

2.  From  a  few  scattered  meetings  held  in  valley,  on  moun- 
tain or  prairie,  years  ago,  it  has  grown  until  now  in  a  year  at 
least  a  million  and  a  half  meetings  are  held. 

3.  It  has  broadened  the  field  of  usefulness  of  woman  and 
has  prepared  her  for  her  place  in  the  true  Republic  the  full 
equal  of  man  as  a  citizen. 

4.  It  has  brought  light,  recreation  and  good  cheer  to  hun- 
dreds of  thousands  of  rural  homes. 

5.  Prevented  the  renewal  of  patents  on  sewing  machines, 
thus  saving  the  people  50  per  cent  of  their  cost,  which  amounts 
to  millions  annually. 

6.  Transportation  companies  were  taught  that  the  creator 
is  greater  than  the  creature.  See  Granger  cases  decided  by  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States. 

7.  Had  passed  and  have  enforced  the  oleomargarine  law. 

8.  Have  passed  laws  somewhat  restricting  alien  landlords 
and  corporations  from  getting  government  land. 

9.  Had  interstate  commerce  law  passed. 

10.  Had  Cabinet  position  created  for  agriculture,  thus  giv- 
ing the  President  a  representative  of  the  parent  of  all  vocations. 

11.  Has  had  agricultural  colleges,  experiment  stations  and 
farms  and  farmers'  institutes  established  in  many  states  of  the 
Union. 

12.  Has  had  some  effect  on  local  and  state  tax  levies  and 
established  State  Arbor  Day. 

13.  Has  caused  the  Reform  Ballot  Law  to  be  passed  in  many 
states. 

14.  Has  increased  state  appropriations  for  public  schools. 

15.  Has  at  all  times  fostered  the  cause  of  free  education. 

16.  Local  achievements,  such  as  building  halls,  making  roads, 
planting  trees  and  vines,  establishing  libraries,  reading  rooms, 
banks,  fire  insurance  companies,  co-operative  enterprises,  trade 
card  systems,  etc.,  too  numerous  to  be  mentioned,  might  be  cited. 

Writers,  readers,  speakers  and  parliamentarians  without  num- 
ber owe  their  success  to  the  Grange;  but  this  ought  to  be  enough 
to  convince  you  that  the  Grange  is  progressive,  not  retrogressive. 
In  politics  the  Grange  is  nonpartisan;  in  religion,  nonsectarian ; 
in  essentials  it  is  unified;  in  nonessentials  it  is  liberal;  in  all  things 
it  is  charitable. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

J.  H.  Brigham's  Administration — Third  Term,  Two 
Years,  1892-189 3 — Twenty-Sixth  and  Twenty- 
Seventh  Sessions  of  the  National  Grange 

After  a  year  of  Grange  prosperity  the  National 
Grange  met  in  26th  annual  session  at  Concord,  N.  H., 
November  16-25,  1892.  All  the  officers  but  Ceres  and 
Flora  were  present. 

Master— J.  H.  Brigham,  Ohio. 
Overseer — E.  W.  Davis,  California. 
Lecturer — Mortimer  Whitehead,  New  Jersey. 
Steward — Ava  E.  Page,  Missouri. 
Assistant  Steward — O.  E.  Hall,  Nebraska. 
Chaplain — Chas.  McDaniel,  New  Hampshire. 
Treasurer — F.  M.  McDowell,  New  York. 
Secretary — John  Trimble,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Gatekeeper — W.  H.  Nelson,  Tennessee. 
Ceres — Mrs.  Edna  Brigham,  Ohio. 
Pomona — Mrs.  C.  E.  Bowen,  Connecticut. 
Flora — Mrs.  E.  P.  Wilson,  Mississippi. 

Lady  Assistant  Steward— Mrs.  L.  C.  Douglas,  Massachusetts. 
Executive  Committee — X.  X.  Chartters,  Virginia;  J.  J.  Wood- 
man, Michigan;  Leonard  Rhone,  Pennsylvania. 

Twenty-nine  states  were  represented  by  the  follow- 
ing delegates:  California,  E.  W.  and  Mrs.  Davis; 
Colorado,  D.  W.  and  Mrs.  Working;  Connecticut, 
G.  A.  and  Mrs.  Bowen;  Delaware,  J.  C.  and  Mrs.  Hig- 
gins;  Illinois,  J.  M.  and  Mrs.  Thompson;  Indiana, 
Aaron  and  Mrs.  Jones;  Iowa,  J.  E.  Blackford;  Kansas, 
A.  B.  and  Mrs.  Reardon ;  Kentucky,  J.  D.  and  Mrs. 
Clardy;  Maine,  M.  B.  and  Mrs.  Hunt;  Massachusetts, 
E.  D.  and  Mrs.  Howe ;  Mississippi,  S.  L.  and  Mrs.  Wil- 
son; Missouri,  A.  E.  and  Mrs.  Page;  Nebraska,  O.  E. 
and  Mrs.  Hall;  Michigan,  Thos.  and  Mrs.  Mars;  New 
Hampshire,  N.  J.  and  Mrs.  Bachelder;  New  Jersey, 
John  Statesir;  New  York,  W.  C.  and  Mrs.  Gifford; 


166 


j.  h.  brigham's  third  term,  1892-1893         167 

North  Carolina,  W.  R.  Williams;  Ohio,  S.  H.  and 
Mrs.  Ellis;  Oregon,  R.  P.  and  Mrs.  Boise;  Pennsyl- 
vania, L.  and  Mrs.  Rhone;  Rhode  Island,  A.  M.  and 
Mrs.  Belcher;  Texas,  J.  B.  and  Mrs.  Long;  Vermont, 
A.  and  Mrs.  Messer;  Virginia,  X.  X.  and  Mrs.  Chart- 
ters;  Washington,  D.  L.  and  Mrs.  Russell;  West  Vir- 
ginia, C.  H.  and  Mrs.  Knott;  Wisconsin,  Wash. 
Churchill. 

The  Worthy  Master  in  his  address  said: 

"The  financial  standing  of  the  National  Grange  is  good.  The 
funds  are  safely  invested,  and  we  pay  as  we  go."  The  pros- 
perous condition  of  agriculture  was  presented,  and  the  impor- 
tance of  organization  and  co-operation  urged.  Pure  food,  anti- 
option  bill,  education,  the  press,  woman's  work,  capital  and 
labor,  the  people  rule,  arid  lands  and  other  questions  were  dis- 
cussed briefly  and  forcefully. 

"The  Grange  has  taken  a  decided  stand,"  said  he,  "in  favor 
of  the  free  delivery  of  mail  to  those  who  live  outside  of  the 
cities  and  villages."  This  decided  stand  was  soon  to  be  recorded 
as  another  great  Grange  victory. 

The  money  question  was  discussed  at  some  length, 
but  his  position  on  the  "unlimited  coinage  of  silver" 
was  not  very  manifest,  though  he  seemed  to  be  de- 
cidedly against  "fiat  money"  in  the  statement  that 
"the  stamp  of  the  government  can  never  fix  nor  main- 
tain the  value  of  these  notes."  While  the  "annual 
address"  of  the  Worthy  Master  always  carries  great 
weight  with  the  members  of  the  Order,  much  as  the 
President's  message  does  with  Congress  and  the 
people,  at  best  it  is  only  an  individual  opinion  when  it 
departs  from  a  mere  recitation  of  facts.  In  conclud- 
ing he  said :  "We  cannot  afford  to  give  to  the  public 
any  matter  that  has  not  been  very  thoroughly  dis- 
cussed and  considered  here.  We  have  acquired  some 
distinction  as  a  safe,  conservative  Order  and  we  must 
add  to,  rather  than  detract  from,  a  well-earned  reputa- 
tion. I  hope  that  all  will  participate  in  the  discussions. 
Modesty  is  sometimes  to  be  commended,  but  here  you 
should  feel  that  the  Patrons  who  have  elected  you  to 


l68  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

the  responsible  position  of  legislators  in  our  Order 
have  a  right  to  expect  you  to  voice  and  vote  their  senti- 
ments upon  the  important  questions  considered  by  the 
National  Grange." 

Worthy  Treasurer  McDowell  reported  the  total  re- 
ceipts $29,984.15,  total  expenditures  $23,701.37,  leaving 
a  balance  of  $6,282.78.  The  Executive  Committee  re- 
ported that  the  "mortgage  loan  at  this  time  amounted 
to  $45400. 

New  Granges  reported  by  the  Secretary,  113,  a 
falling  off  from  277  the  year  before.  The  reports 
from  Masters  of  State  Granges  showed  a  strengthen- 
ing of  the  Order  all  along  the  line.  Although  not  so 
many  new  Granges  were  organized  as  the  last  two  pre- 
ceding years,  many  new  members  had  been  added 
to  the  old  Granges,  and  better  discipline  was  manifest- 
ing itself  throughout  the  Order. 

Hon.  J.  R.  Dodge  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture 
and  a  member  of  the  Order,  who  had  been  sent  by  the 
Secretary  of  Agriculture  to  represent  him  and  the 
Department,  was  introduced  to  the  Grange  and  made 
a  very  pleasing  address,  outlining  the  purposes  and 
plans  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  in  promoting 
the  interest  of  the  farmers.  "The  Secretary  of  Agri- 
culture, Hon.  J.  M.  Rusk,"  said  he,  "is  in  sympathy 
with  the  high  aims  of  our  beneficent  order,  and  wel- 
comes its  co-operation  in  the  work  of  advancing  the 
interests  of  agriculture  and  elevating  the  condition  of 
the  husbandman."  The  whole  address  was  a  forceful 
presentation  of  the  necessity  for  organization,  with 
much  praise  for  the  good  work  the  Grange  was  doing. 
The  appointment  of  Secretary  Rusk  had  been 
a  disappointment  to  many  members  of  the  Grange, 
but  after  he  became  Secretary,  he  left  nothing  undone 
to  gain  the  goodwill  of,  and  to  manifest  his  sympathy 
with,  the  real  farmers  of  the  country.  He  succeeded 
so  well  that  the  members  of  the  Grange  and  the  farm- 
ers generally  learned  to  love  "Uncle  Jerry." 


j.  h.  brigham's  third  term,  1892-1893        169 

The  Grange  status  of  Miss  Carrie  A.  Hall,  niece  of 
O.  H.  Kelley,  had  often  been  discussed,  and  with  a 
view  to  settling  the  matter  a  resolution  was  adopted 
at  this  session  as  follows: 

"Resolved,  That  the  Worthy  Secretary  be  and  he  is  hereby  in- 
structed to  inform  Sister  Carrie  A.  Hall  that  the  National 
Grange  recognizes  her  as  equal  to  a  'Founder  of  the  Order'  of 
the  Patrons  of  Husbandry." 

Following  this,  W.  C.  GifTord  of  New  York  offered 
a  resolution  which  was  adopted : 

"That  a  committee  of  three  members  of  the  National  Grange, 
consisting  of  two  Sisters  and  one  Brother,  be  appointed  to  pre- 
pare and  submit  a  proper  testimonial  of  the  appreciation  of  all 
Patrons  of  Husbandry  of  the  services  of  Sister  Carrie  A.  Hall 
in  the  organization  of  our  noble  Order,  and  to  have  the  same 
suitably  engrossed  and  presented  to  our  beloved  Sister." 

The  Committee  appointed  reported  as  follows: 

The  National  Grange,  Patrons  of  Husbandry, 
To  Sister  Carrie  A.  Hall,  Greeting. 

Dear  Sister :  In  recognition  of  your  invaluable  services  in 
the  early  work  of  the  Grange  by  rendering  important  aid  in 
the  preparation  of  the  Ritual,  and  more  especially  in  bringing 
the  women  of  the  farm  into  the  Order  upon  terms  of  perfect 
equality,  endowing  them  with  the  same  rights  and  privileges 
as  the  other  sex,  the  twenty-sixth  Annual  Session,  assembled  at 
Concord,  N.  H.,  has  unanimously  adopted  the  following  resolu- 
tion: 

Resolved,  That  the  Worthy  Secretary  be  and  is  hereby  in- 
structed to  inform  Sister  Carrie  A.  Hall  that  the  National 
Grange  recognizes  her  as  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Order. 

The  resolution  first  adopted  is  somewhat  different 
from  the  one  reported  by  the  Committee.  In  the 
original  resolution  the  words  "equal  to  a  Founder," 
appear,  but  in  the  resolution  reported  by  the  Com- 
mittee, which  was  supposed  to  be  a  copy  of  the 
original  one,  the  words  "one  of  the  Founders" 
have  been  substituted.  There  would  seem  to  be  a 
substantial  difference  between  the  two  expressions. 
If  she  is  recognized  as  "one  of  the  Founders,"  then 


17°  PATRONS  OF    HUSBANDRY 

the  Order  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry  has  "eight 
Founders"  instead  of  "seven,"  because  the  "seven 
Founders"  were  "recognized"  in  the  same  somewhat 
arbitrary  way. 

At  the  next  annual  session  the  Committee  reported 
that  "this  testimonial  was  carefully  packed  and  for- 
warded to  its  destination  and  was  received  in  good 
order  by  Sister  Hall,  and  her  letter  of  appreciation  is 
herewith  appended  as  a  part  of  this  report." 

James  Draper,  Past  Master  of  Massachusetts  State  Grange. 

Dear  Sir  and  Brother:  Your  favor,  with  the  engrossed  reso- 
lutions, duly  received.  They  are  very  beautiful,  and  I  thank 
you,  the  National  Grange,  and,  most  cordially,  the  Committee, 
for  this  most  beautiful  remembrance. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

Caroline  A.  Hall. 

Resolutions  were  adopted  favoring  a  graduated  in- 
come tax,  the  election  of  United  States  Senators  by 
direct  vote  of  the  people,  free  rural  mail  delivery,  pre- 
vention of  the  adulteration  of  food  and  lard,  prevention 
of  gambling  in  futures,  and  the  Australian  ballot 
system. 

The  death  of  William  M.  Ireland,  the  second  one  of 
the  "founders"  to  pass  away,  was  reported  at  this 
session. 

No  changes  were  made  in  the  salaries  of  officers 
except  that  the  Treasurer's  salary  was  raised  from 
$300  to  $400  a  year. 

Leonard  Rhone  of  Pennsylvania  was  re-elected  a 
member  of  the  Executive  Committee. 

After  a  very  pleasant,  active  and  important  session 
the  members  bade  adieu  to  old  New  England  and  scat- 
tered over  the  country  to  their  several  homes  and 
states  once  more  to  take  up  the  splendid  work  of  the 
Order. 

Men  and  measures  might  come  up  and  play  their 
part  on  the  Grange  stage,  but  the  Order  of  Patrons 
of  Husbandry  must  "go  on  forever."    The  year  1892 


j.  h.  brigham's  third  term,  1892-1893         171 

had  been  a  great  political  campaign  year,  and  political 
revolution  had  swept  one  party  out  of  power  and  an- 
other in.  The  sequel  of  some  of  the  political  changes 
manifested  itself  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  National 
Grange. 

The  twenty-seventh  session  of  the  National  Grange 
met  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  November  15-23.  All  the 
officers  but  Gatekeeper,  Ceres  and  Flora  were  present, 
and  the  work  of  the  session  was  promptly  taken  up. 

Twenty-eight  states  were  represented  by  the  same 
delegates  as  at  the  last  session,  except  as  follows : 
California,  A.  P.  and  Mrs.  Roach ;  Kentucky,  not  repre- 
sented; Maryland,  H.  M.  and  Mrs.  Murray;  Michigan, 
G.  B.  and  Mrs.  Horton;  Missouri,  W.  E.  and  Mrs. 
Harbaugh ;  New  Jersey,  J.  T.  and  Mrs.  Cox;  Ohio, 
T.  R.  and  Mrs.  Smith;  Virginia,  R.  R.  and  Mrs.  Hutch- 
inson ;  North  Carolina  and  Texas  not  represented. 

The  Worthy  Master  discussed  the  subjects  that  usu- 
ally found  a  place  in  the  Master's  "address"  and  then 
turned  his  batteries  on  the  Department  of  Agriculture. 
A  new  Secretary  of  Agriculture  had  been  appointed  on 
the  fourth  of  the  preceding  March,  and  just  then  there 
was  no  question  of  such  vital  importance  as  an  ad- 
dress delivered  by  J.  Sterling  Morton,  Secretary  of 
Agriculture,  at  the  opening  of  the  Congress  on  Agri- 
culture at  Chicago,  111.,  October  16,  1893.  It  seemed 
the  Grange,  in  creating  the  United  States  Department 
of  Agriculture,  had  created  a  "Frankenstein." 

The  Worthy  Master  seemed  to  be  overflowing  with 

sarcasm  at  the  thought  of  that  speech.    Said  he : 

"The  farmer  is  considered  as  a  good  citizen  in  his  place,  but 
he  is  warned  not  to  meddle  with  'business'  or  'politics.'  Such 
matters  should  be  intrusted  to  his  Brothers  who  live  in  towns 
and  cities,  who  are  supposed  to  know  something.  He  must  not 
criticize  the  management  of  railroads  or  banking  institutions, 
nor  make  any  suggestions  as  to  the  financial  policy  of  the  gov- 
ernment. Above  all  things  he  must  avoid  'gregariousness.' 
Listen  to  the  words  of  wisdom  that  recently  fell  from  the  lips 
of  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture. 


172  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

"'American  farmers  have  foes  to  contend  with;  they  are  not 
the  natural  foes — not  the  weevil  in  the  wheat,  nor  the  murrain 
in  cattle,  nor  the  cholera  in  swine,  nor  the  drouth,  nor  the 
chinch-bug.  The  most  insidious  and  destructive  foe  of  the 
farmer  is  the  professional  farmer,  the  promoter  of  Granges 
and  Alliances,  who  for  political  purposes  farms  the  farmer. 

"  'He  will  not  succeed  better  by  forming  Granges  and  Alliances 
which  generally  seek  to  attend  to  some  other  business  than  farm- 
ing, and  frequently  propose  to  run  railroads  and  banks,  and 
even  propose  to  establish  new  systems  of  coinage  for  the  gov- 
ernment, than  he  will  by  individual  investigation  of  economic 
questions. 

"  'The  one  book  which  I  can  recommend  to  the  farmers  for 
their  perusal  is  Adam  Smith's  "Wealth  of  Nations."  I  would 
also  have,  if  possible,  a  daily  newspaper  from  a  great  city  at 
every  fireside.' " 

Altogether  the  Secretary's  speech  was  a  most  re- 
markable production.  Commenting  further  upon  it, 
the  Worthy  Master  said: 

"What  a  great  head  we  now  have  in  charge  of  the  De- 
partment! Professors  in  agricultural  colleges,  directors  and 
officers  of  experiment  stations  and  others  have  been  diligently 
searching  out  the  foes  of  agriculture  and  experimenting  on 
methods  of  destruction  with  some  degree  of  success,  but  it  re- 
mained for  the  railroad  attorney  and  lobbyist,  who  is  Secretary 
of  Agriculture,  to  discover  'the  most  insidious  and  destructive 
foe  of  the  farmer,  viz.,  the  promoter  of  Granges  and  Alliances.'  " 

A  perfect  storm  of  protest  had  developed  in  the  coun- 
try, and  the  Worthy  Master  in  his  righteous  indigna- 
tion was  excusable  for  his  caustic  consideration  of  Mr. 
Morton's  unfortunate  speech,  for: 

"Experience  has  demonstrated  the  fact  that  farmers  will  en- 
dure much  neglect,  submit  to  being  ignored,  but  it  has  not  yet 
been  shown  that  they  will  not  resent  ridicule  and  insult  from  one 
who  should  be  their  trusted  adviser  and  friend." 

On  November  22,  1893,  the  National  Grange  unani- 
mously adopted  the  following  resolutions  which  had 
been  carefully  considered  by  a  committee: 

"Your  Committee  on  Good  of  the  Order,  to  whom  was 
referred  the  resolutions  of  Enterprise  Pomona  Grange,  Cali- 
fornia, and  the  resolution  of  Hope  Grange,  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  in  reference  to  the  language  used  by  J.  Sterling  Morton, 


j.  h.  brigham's  third  term,  1892-1893        173 

Secretary  of  Agriculture,  in  his  speech  at  Chicago,  at  the  meet- 
ing of  the  World's  Congress,  where  he,  in  language  unbecoming 
a  gentleman,  much  less  a  high  official,  no  less  than  a  member 
of  the  President's  Cabinet,  condemns  and  censures  all  farmers' 
organizations,  specifically  mentioning  the  Grange  in  the  follow- 
ing language,  to  wit : 

"  'That  the  most  insidious  and  destructive  foe  to  farmers  is 
the  professional  farmer,  the  promoter  of  Granges  and  Alliances, 
who,  for  political  purposes,  farms  the  farmer;  that  he  will  not 
succeed  better  by  forming  Granges  and  Alliances  which  generally 
seek  to  attend  to  some  other  business  than  farming.' 

"Resolved,  That  so  far  as  the  Grange  is  concerned  there  is 
not  one  word  of  truth  in  what  the  Secretary  has  said  about  it, 
Dut,  on  the  contrary,  it  is  strictly  nonpartisan  and  tends  by  all 
its  teachings  and  principles  to  educate  and  elevate  the  farmer 
to  higher  and  nobler  citizenship,  and  does  in  a  thousand  ways 
improve  the  farmer  in  his  profession  by  teaching  the  most 
approved  methods  of  agriculture,  and  in  the  marketing  of  his 
products  of  the  farm,  and  in  wisely  using  the  money  received 
therefor  in  beautifying  and  making  the  home  of  the  farmer 
better  and  increasing  the  intelligence  and  happiness  of  the  farmer 
and  his  family. 

"Resolved,  That  in  giving  utterance  to  this  calumny,  the  fallacy 
of  which  the  Secretary  must  have  known  or  could  have  known 
had  he  taken  the  pains  to  inform  himself,  he  has  proven  himself 
unworthy  of  the  high  position  he  holds. 

"Resolved,  That  the  President  of  the  United  States  owes  it 
to  the  farmers  of  America,  the  largest  agricultural  nation  in  the 
world,  and  the  largest  single  interest  in  the  United  States,  that 
they  should  have  a  Secretary  of  Agriculture  in  sympathy  with 
this  great  interest.  We  believe  it  to  be  the  imperative  duty  of 
the  President  to  immediately  take  steps  to  secure  a  Secretary 
of  Agriculture  who  shall  be  in  accord  with  that  interest. 

"Resolved,  That  the  Master  and  Secretary  of  the  National 
Grange,  over  their  official  signatures,  transmit  to  the  President 
of  the  United  States,  the  action  of  the  National  Grange,  rela- 
tive to  the  contempt  expressed  by  the  Hon.  J.  Sterling  Morton, 
Secretary  of  Agriculture,  for  all  farmers'  organizations,  especially 
the  Patrons  of  Husbandry." 

Worthy  Treasurer  McDowell  reported  the  total  re- 
ceipts $26,028.78,  total  expenditures  of  $21,932.27,  leav- 
ing a  balance  of  $4,096.51.  The  Secretary's  report 
showed  eighty  new  Granges  organized.  The  Execu- 
tive Committee's  report  showed  the  amount  loaned  on 


174  PATRONS  OF  HUSBANDRY 

real  estate  security  to  be  $46,333.32,  and  loaned  on 
demand,  personal  security,  $2,000. 

As  the  funds  of  the  National  Grange  increased,  there 
was  manifest  a  disposition  to  increase  the  salaries 
of  officers.  The  year  before  the  Treasurer's  salary 
had  been  raised  from  $300  to  $400,  and  at  this  session 
the  Lecturer,  who  had  been  receiving  $3  a  day  when 
on  Grange  work,  was  given  "a  salary  of  $400,  and  $3 
per  day,  necessary  stationery,  postage,  office  and 
traveling  expenses  when  on  duty  for  the  Order." 
Other  salaries  remained  the  same  as  the  year  before. 

A  resolution  was  adopted  declaring  "That  the 
Patrons  of  Husbandry  of  the  United  States  of  America 
are  opposed  to  gambling  in  all  forms."  Many  other 
resolutions  on  a  variety  of  subjects  were  adopted,  but 
to  get  a  full  comprehension  of  the  real  breadth  and 
grasp  of  public  questions  it  would  be  necessary  to  read  the 
well-prepared  reports  of  committees  which  were  made 
to  this  and  all  other  sessions  of  the  National  Grange. 
The  Grange  in  all  its  branches,  Subordinate,  State  and 
National,  had  become  a  school  of  economics,  and  em- 
bodied in  the  reports  of  these  Grange  assemblies  was 
the  result  of  the  best  farmer  thinking  in  the  country. 

One  of  the  most  pleasing  and  noteworthy  events  of 
the  year  1893  was  the  "Silver  Jubilee"  or  twenty-fifth 
anniversary  of  the  organization  of  the  first  farmers' 
Grange  in  the  world  at  Fredonia,  Chautauqua  County, 
N.  Y.,  April  20  and  21,  1893.  The  addresses  delivered 
on  that  occasion  were  collected,  edited  and  published 
in  pamphlet  form  by  Worthy  Lecturer  Mortimer 
Whitehead,  who  said  in  his  introduction : 

"Twenty-five  years  have  passed  since  then,  and  on  April 
20  and  21,  1893,  the  anniversary  day  was  celebrated  with  a  pro- 
gram covering  both  days,  and  morning,  afternoon  and  evening 
sessions  in  a  large  opera  house,  filled  with  thousands  of  Patrons, 
and  on  one  evening  with  outside  friends.  Beautiful  decorations 
of  fruits,  flowers,  grain,  pictures,  mottoes,  mementos,  and  relics 
of  the  early  clays,  with  music  and  songs  by  choirs,  quartettes, 
glee    clubs,    solos,   recitations,   original   poems,   essays,    speeches, 


j.  h.  brigham's  third  term,  1892-1893        175 

presentations,  receptions  and  bountiful  meals  served  in  two  large 
halls  belonging  to  the  old  Grange,  which  now  has  250  members, 
together  with  the  presence  of  officers  of  the  National  and  State 
Granges,  all  made  up  a  picture  and  an  occasion  marking  an  im- 
portant event  in  Grange  history,  and  all  revolving  around  the 
honored  guest  who  had  come  all  the  way  from  his  distant  home 
in  Florida  to  be  present  and  meet  and  greet  the  old  Grange  he 
had  organized  twenty-five  years  before — Brother  O.  H.  Kelley, 
the  founder  of  the  Order  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  the  man 
of  faith  and  works,  who  carried  it  over  all  obstacles  to  success. 

"None  the  less  honored  was  Sister  Caroline  A.  Hall,  she  who 
first  proposed  the  admission  of  women  in  our  Order,  and  who 
cheered  and  aided  the  early  workers  in  their  darkest  hours. 
Prevented  from  being  present  from  her  home  in  Minnesota  by 
the  recent  death  of  her  mother,  her  letter  of  greeting  not  only 
to  the  Grange  in  Fredonia,  but  to  the  Order  at  large,  will  be 
welcomed  by  tens  of  thousands  of  sisters  wherever  the  name 
of  Grange  is  known." 

Many  distinguished  members  of  the  Order  were 
present  and  made  addresses,  which,  taken  together, 
made  a  feast  of  historic  interest  and  good  cheer  rarely 
surpassed.  A  part  of  "Father  Kelley's"  characteristic 
address  was  as  follows : 

"Worthy  Master  and  Patrons:  Anniversaries  are  the  occa- 
sions when  care  is  thrown  aside  and  the  participants  unite  for  a 
jollification  ;  good  humor  prevails,  and  if  the  occasion  proves  a  suc- 
cess we  look  back  upon  it  as  one  of  the  pleasant  features  of  life. 

"When  I  received  your  invitation  to  be  present  and  help  cele- 
brate the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  Fredonia  Grange,  I  was 
so  much  surprised  I  could  hardly  believe  it  a  reality. 

"A  quarter  of  a  century  had  elapsed,  and  though  1,500  miles 
apart  you  'had  not  forgotten  the  old  man.'  I  determined  to  ac- 
cept, and  here  I  am. 

"This  fact  you  have — that  no  other  Grange  in  the  United 
States  ranks  Fredonia  in  age.  It  is  recorded  as  the  first  that 
was  regularly  organized  and  at  once  commenced  active  work. 

"In  every  state  and  territory  of  the  Union,  Granges  have  been 
organized,  and  over  800,000  names  of  charter  members  are  now 
recorded  in  the  National  office. 

"From  the  Grange  have  sprung  the  Alliance  and  numerous 
other  farmer  organizations.  What  the  outcome  will  be  remains 
for  the  future,  but  we  may  feel  proud  that  the  seed  planted  by 
Fredonia  Grange  has  spread  over  the  whole  country. 


176  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

"Our  Order  was  the  first  secret  society  that  ever  admitted 
woman  to  full  membership;  its  growth  shows  what  may  be 
accomplished  with  woman's  influence.  Its  growth  is  also  a  les- 
son to  the  young  of  both  sexes,  showing  what  pluck  and  per- 
severance can  bring  about. 

"No  enterprise  of  any  magnitude  can  well  be  established  in 
less  than  five  years.  Statistics  show  that  out  of  every  hundred 
but  five  become  eminently  successful.  Ten  per  cent  more  are 
but  moderately  so,  while  the  remaining  85  are  failures. 

"The  failures  may  be  attributed  to  three  causes — lack  of  merit, 
want  of  capital,  and  lack  of  vim  and  perseverance. 

"If  you  will  cling  to  a  good,  meritorious  work  for  five  years, 
putting  your  whole  energy  in  it,  success  will  crown  your  efforts. 
Too  many  give  up  in  four  years  and  a  half. 

"Let  us  see  what  five  years  did  for  our  Order.  In  the  first 
year  we  issued  only  10  dispensations,  the  second  36,  the  third 
134.  At  the  end  of  the  fourth  year  we  had  in  all  1,005.  The  ball 
was  then  fairly  rolling,  and  the  years  of  '73  and  '74  were  marvels 
of  success  in  organization. 

"During  January,  February  and  March  of  1874  we  averaged 
over  2,000  each  month,  and  two  days  are  on  record  when  165 
applications  for  new  Granges  were  received  on  each  day. 

"The  prosperity  of  our  Order  is  due  mostly  to  the  female 
membership ;  it  would  not,  it  could  not,  exist  without  them.  The 
times  have  changed  very  materially  in  woman's  favor  in  the 
past  25  years.  Socially  she  has  always  been  the  peer  of  man, 
and  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  she  will  be  his  equal  po- 
litically.    That,  however,  depends  wholly  upon  herself. 

"When  the  women  say  they  will  vote  they  will,  and  no  power 
on  earth  can  stop  them. 

"In  business  of  all  kinds  woman  is  showing  herself  as  capable 
as  man.  In  my  office,  while  National  Secretary,  all  my  clerical 
work  was  done  by  young  women.  During  the  12  years  while 
I  held  the  position  over  $400,000  was  received.  Miss  Hall  was 
my  assistant  and  cashier;  every  dollar  of  this  passed  through 
her  hands,  and  when  our  books  were  critically  examined  at  the 
end  of  12  years,  the  committee  published  their  report  showing 
the  National  Grange  was  in  our  debt  $8.34. 

"In  the  past  25  years  there  is  no  instance  recorded  of  a  female 
bookkeeper  or  cashier  going  to  Canada,  while  quite  a  number 
of  men  have  made  temporary  homes  in  that  country. 

"My  convictions  are  that  women  are  the  most  honorable  and 
reliable  part  of  the  human  family,  and,  like  all  sensible  men, 
I  have  always  been  an  ardent  admirer  of  women." 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

J.  H.  Brigham's  Administration — Fourth  Term,  Two 
Years,    1894-1895 — Twenty-Eighth   and   Twenty- 
Ninth  Sessions  of  the  National  Grange. 

The  twenty-eighth  session  of  the  National  Grange 
met  at  Springfield,  111.,  November  14-22,  1894.  All 
the  officers  were  in  their  places. 

Master— J.  H.  Brigham,  Ohio. 
Overseer— E.  W.  Davis,  California. 
Lecturer — Alpha  Messer,  Vermont. 
Stezvard—M.  B.  Hunt,  Maine. 
Assistant  Steward — A.  M.  Belcher,  Rhode  Island. 
Chaplain — S.  L.  Wilson,  Mississippi. 
Treasurer — Mrs.  Eva  S.  McDowell,  New  York. 
Secretary — John  Trimble,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Gatekeeper — W.  E.  Harbaugh,  Missouri. 
Ceres — Mrs.  M.  S.  Rhone,  Pennsylvania. 
Pomona — Mrs.  Mary  M.  Reardon,  Kansas. 
Flora — Mrs.  Annie  Bull,  Minnesota. 
Lady  Assistant  Steward — Mrs.  A.  M.  Horton,  Michigan. 
Members  of  Executive  Committee — J.  J.  Woodman,  Michigan; 
R.  R.  Hutchinson,  Virginia;  Leonard  Rhone,  Pennsylvania. 

Twenty-eight  states  were  represented  by  the  follow- 
ing delegates:  California,  A.  P.  and  Mrs.  Roache; 
Colorado,  J.  A.  and  Mrs.  Newcombe;  Connecticut, 
G.  A.  and  Mrs.  Bowen;  Delaware,  J.  C.  and  Mrs.  Hig- 
gins;  Illinois,  Oliver  and  Mrs.  Wilson;  Indiana,  A.  and 
Mrs.  Jones;  Iowa,  A.  B.  and  Mrs.  Judson ;  Kansas, 
A.  P.  and  Mrs.  Reardon;  Maine,  E.  and  Mrs.  Wiggin; 
Maryland,  H.  O.  and  Mrs.  Devries ;  Massachusetts, 
E.  D.  and  Mrs.  Howe;  Michigan,  G.  B.  and  Mrs.  Hor- 
ton; Mississippi,  S  L.  and  Mrs.  Wilson;  Missouri, 
W.  E.  and  Mrs.  Harbaugh;  Nebraska,  O.  E.  and  Mrs. 
Hall;  New  Hampshire,  N.  J.  and  Mrs.  Bachelder;  New 
Jersey,  J.  T.  and  Mrs.  Cox ;  New  York,  O.  H.  and  Mrs. 
Hale;  Ohio,  T.  R.  and  Mrs.  Smith;  Oregon,  J.  and 

177 


I78  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

Mrs.  Vorhees;  Pennsylvania,  L.  and  Mrs.  Rhone; 
Rhode  Island,  A.  M.  and  Mrs.  Belcher;  Texas,  John 
B.  Long;  Vermont,  A.  and  Mrs.  Messer;  Virginia, 
A.  J.  and  Mrs.  Wedderburn;  Washington,  D.  L.  and 
Mrs.  Russell;  West  Virginia,  C.  H.  and  Mrs.  Knott; 
Wisconsin,  W.  and  Mrs.  Churchill. 

The  Worthy  Master  delivered  a  hopeful  and  en- 
couraging address,  showing  progress  and  prosperity 
during  the  past  year.  He  dwelt  at  considerable  length 
upon  the  unequal  burden  of  taxation  the  farmers  had 
to  bear  and  strongly  indorsed  an  income  tax  as  being 
just  and  equitable.  He  referred  to  "the  dangerous 
concentration  of  wealth  in  the  hands  of  a  few  families. 
We  do  not  advocate  any  unnecessary  interference  in 
the  business  of  enterprising  men,  but  a  republic  cannot 
long  survive  this  accumulation  of  wealth  in  the  hands 
of  a  few  to  the  impoverishment  of  the  masses.  How 
to  distribute  more  equitably  the  profits  of  labor  and 
the  burdens  of  taxation  is  a  problem  which  should 
occupy  the  thoughts  of  our  wisest  statesmen." 

Advocating  retrenchment,  he  said  :  "Let  the  Grange 
lead  the  way  in  a  general  assault  upon  high  fees  and 
salaries  as  well  as  public  expenditures.  Such  evils 
do  not  cure  themselves.  If  farmers  will  not  unite  to 
reduce  the  cost  of  government,  they  will  deserve  and 
receive  no  sympathy  for  the  burdens  they  bear."  This 
was  in  the  "panic"  year  of  1894,  when  the  farmers 
everywhere  found  retrenchment  necessary. 

He  condemned  government  irrigation  schemes  and 
strongly  advocated  "free  delivery  of  mails."  "We  be- 
lieve," said  he,  "that  the  time  has  arrived  when  farmers 
should  emphatically  demand  that  free  delivery  of  mails 
be  extended  to  the  rural  districts." 

Speaking  of  the  "labor  troubles,"  he  said : 

"The  farmers  are  interested  in  the  amicable  settlement  of  the 
differences  between  employer  and  employee.  We  will  sustain 
with  all  our  influence  the  'right  of  labor  to  organize.'  Capital 
is  thoroughly  organized;  so  is  every  profession.     Organization 


j.  h.  brigham's  fourth  term,  1894-1895        179 

increases  power.  Power  may  be  abused.  Corporations  are  said 
to  be  soulless.  They  employ  labor,  and  sometimes  may  attempt 
to  oppress  their  employees.  Their  means  of  defense  is  organiza- 
tion. Wise,  conservative  leaders  must  be  selected.  Labor  must 
respect  the  rights  of  the  employer  and  also  of  the  public.  They 
will  then  be  invincible  in  demanding  what  is  clearly  right.  If 
labor  is  to  be  employed  at  good  wages,  capital  must  be  allowed 
a  fair  per  cent  of  profit,  and  the  farmer  fair  prices  for  his  prod- 
uce. Conditions  which  do  not  permit  both  will  react  to  the 
injury  of  labor.  Patience  and  mutual  concessions  in  time  of 
depression  will  always  prove  wise.  The  law  must  be  respected 
and  observed  by  capital  and  labor.  If  unjust  to  either,  the 
farmer  will  help  to  secure  amendment.  Let  us  have  peace  and 
prosperity  and  an  era  of  good  will  among  all  classes." 

This  was  a  fair  and  concise  statement  of  the  atti- 
tude of  the  Grange  and  the  farmers  generally  toward 
capital  and  labor. 

The  Worthy  Master  covered  a  wide  range  of  sub- 
jects, but  finally  settled  down  to  the  "free  coinage  of 
silver"  question.  Now,  only  about  a  year  in  advance 
of  the  opening  up  of  the  celebrated  "free  silver"  cam- 
paign of  1896,  the  question  was  in  the  minds  of 
everybody,  the  sentiment  for  "free  coinage  at  16 
to  1"  had  been  accepted  by  most  farmers,  and  the 
Grange  had  previously  indorsed  it.  In  about  five  pages 
of  the  journal  the  Worthy  Master  discussed  the  ques- 
tion closely  and  clearly,  but  all  his  argument  was 
against  "free  coinage."  He  did  not  settle  the  question, 
but  closed  by  saying,  "I  know  that  radical  differences 
of  opinion  on  these  subjects  exist  in  our  Order,  which 
should  not  be  a  matter  of  surprise.  Our  members  are 
not  like  sheep,  following  the  'bellwether,'  even  if  he 
leads  them  to  destruction.  Each  one  is  encouraged  to 
investigate,  think  and  decide  questions  in  accordance 
with  his  own  best  judgment.  We  can  agree  in  our 
fraternal  relations  and  co-operate  in  the  Grange  work, 
but  in  matters  of  politics  and  religion  we  are  perfectly 
free  to  go  our  own  way,  and  no  member  of  the  Order 
has  the  right  to  demand  of  his  brother  the  whys  and 
wherefores." 


l80  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

This  seems  to  have  been  the  last  of  this  question  in 
the  National  Grange. 

This  year  was  notable  for  the  death  of  F.  M.  Mc- 
Dowell and  J.  R.  Thompson,  two  of  the  Founders  of 
the  Order,  and  J.  W.  A.  Wright,  author  of  the 
"Declaration  of  Purposes." 

The  Worthy  Treasurer,  Eva  S.  McDowell,  reported 
the  total  receipts,  $20,763.93;  total  disbursements,  $14,- 
435-77,  leaving  a  balance  of  $6,328.16.  The  Secretary 
reported  ninety-two  new  Granges  during  the  year. 

The  Executive  Committee  reported  the  total  assets 
of  the  National  Grange  on  September  30,  1893,  at 
$52,429.83,  a  falling  off  for  the  current  year  of  $1,935.02. 

Leonard  Rhone  of  Pennsylvania  was  re-elected  a 
member  of  the  Executive  Committee. 

The  Grange,  like  political  parties,  has  nearly  always 
had  before  it  one  paramount  issue  at  a  time.  The 
"silver  question"  had  kept  the  Grange  busy  for 
several  years.  The  tariff  questions  had  been  success- 
fully disposed  of,  but  these  and  some  other  questions 
were  hardly  out  of  the  way  until  Mr.  David  Lubin  had 
injected  himself  and  his  "Lubin  Proposition"  into  the 
Grange.  This  was  the  same  David  Lubin  who  "founded" 
the  International  Institute  of  Agriculture,  with  head- 
quarters at  Rome,  Italy,  of  which  Mr.  Lubin  has  been 
the  "delegate  from  the  United  States."  Later  he  was 
prominently  before  the  public  in  advocacy  of  the  Ger- 
man system  of  rural  credits.  The  Master  of  the  Cali- 
fornia State  Grange  brought  the  "Proposition"  to  the 
National  Grange  at  Springfield,  111.,  in  1894,  with  the 
indorsement  of  the  California  State  Grange.  The  pre- 
amble contained  eighteen  whereases,  but  the  "Proposi- 
tion" itself  was  contained  in  the  following  brief 
resolutions : 

"Resolved,  That  just  so  long  as  the  protective  tariff  system 
is  in  operation  for  the  protection  of  American  industries,  we 
demand  an  equal  measure  of  protection  for  agricultural  staples. 


j.  h.  brigham's  fourth  term,  1894-1895       181 

"Resolved,  That  this  be  done  by  government  bounties  on  agri- 
cultural exports  from  the  United  States  to  foreign  seaports. 

"Resolved,  That  we  pledge  our  most  earnest  efforts  and  sup- 
port to  have  this  proposition  become  a  law  of  our  country." 

The  Committee  on  Agriculture,  of  which  Aaron 
Jones  of  Indiana  was  chairman,  labored  long  over  the 
"Proposition,"  and  closed  by  recommending  that  a 
conference  be  called  by  the  National  Grange  Legisla- 
tive Committee  at  its  convenience,  and  that  the  "Lubin 
Proposition"  be  considered  by  it. 

At  the  next  session  of  the  National  Grange  at  Wor- 
cester, Mass.,  the  Proposition  came  up  with  redoubled 
force.  The  "Conference,"  referred  to  above,  was 
not  called  until  November  14th,  the  second  day  of  the 
National  Grange  session.  The  findings  of  this  "Con- 
ference" were  introduced  with  this  information : 
"Your  Committee  on  Legislation  begs  leave  to  report 
that,  in  pursuance  to  instructions  of  this  body,  they 
attended  the  National  Conference  of  the  Industrial  In- 
terests of  the  United  States,  called  by  them  under  in- 
structions from  the  last  National  Grange,  to  meet  in 
this  city  November  14th  instant. 

"The  following  gentlemen,  representing  the  various 
interests  named,  were  present  in  response  to  our  in- 
vitation :  J.  H.  Brigham,  Leonard  Rhone,  John  Trim- 
ble, H.  C.  Devries,  Aaron  Jones,  representatives  of  the 
National  Grange  ;  David  Lubin,  of  California  ;  R.  G.  F. 
Candage,  National  Farmers'  Congress ;  Hugh  Craig, 
Vice-President  Chamber  of  Commerce,  San  Francisco, 
Cal. ;  W.  H.  Llewellyn,  representative  Chamber 
of  Commerce,  Seattle,  Wash.;  Oliver  Wilson,  Illinois; 
J.  L.  Minton,  Missouri  National  Farmers'  Congress ; 
W.  W.  Bates,  ex-United  States  Commissioner  Navi- 
gation, representing  the  shipping  interest ;  W.  F. 
Leonard,  New  York,  American  Masters'  and  Pilots' 
Association;  G.  C.  Thayer,  Pennsylvania,  Cramp  Ship- 
building Company;  Alfred  E.  Cos,  Massachusetts,  At- 
lantic Iron  Works,  Boston;  S.  B.  Ascher,  Tariff  Com- 


l82  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

mercial  League,  New  Jersey ;  A.  R.  Smith,  New  York, 
representing  the  shipping  interest  (editor  of  the  Sea- 
board) ;  E.  P.  Curtis,  Worcester,  National  Association 
Manufacturers'  Implements  and  Vehicles." 

In  the  findings  of  this  "Conference,"  too  long  to  re- 
print here,  the  "Lubin  Proposition"  was  unqualifiedly 
indorsed. 

On  motion,  the  consideration  of  the  Conference  re- 
port was  postponed  until  after  the  Committee  on  Agri- 
culture, of  which  Aaron  Jones  of  Indiana  was  again 
Chairman,  made  its  report. 

The  matter  was  disposed  of  for  this  session  by  the 
adoption  of  the  following  report  of  the  Committee  on 
Agriculture : 

"In  regard  to  the  above  preamble  and  resolutions  presented  to 
the  National  Grange  by  Brother  W.  W.  Greer  of  California,  and 
referred  to  the  Committee  on  Agriculture,  which  resolutions  em- 
body in  substance  what  is  known  as  the  Lubin  Proposition,  your 
committee  begs  leave  to  report  that,  having  carefully  considered 
the  same  and  having  listened  to  able  arguments  in  favor  of  the 
resolutions  by  Brother  W.  W.  Greer,  Brother  David  Lubin  and 
Brother  Wm.  Johnston  of  California,  and  of  other  able  advocates, 
is  unable  to  recommend  their  adoption  as  presented,  but  would 
recommend  the  following  as  expressing  the  position  of  the  Na- 
tional Grange  upon  this  subject: 

"  'Resolved,  That  the  National  Grange  of  the  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandry in  twenty-ninth  annual  session  assembled,  having 
considered  the  Lubin  Proposition,  so-called,  without  expressing 
any  opinion  upon  the  merits  of  said  proposition,  or  upon  its 
effect  if  enacted  into  law,  but  recognizing  the  truth  of  many  of 
the  statements  therein  contained  in  regard  to  the  depressed  con- 
dition of  agriculture  in  our  country  at  the  present  time,  would 
respectfully  recommend  said  proposition  to  the  careful  considera- 
tion of  Congress  and  of  the  American  people.  And  that  we  urge 
upon  Congress  an  early  and  thorough  investigation  of  the 
subject,  and  that  the  legislative  committee  be  directed  to  present 
the  same  to  Congress.' " 

The  twenty-ninth  session  of  the  National  Grange 
was  held  at  Worcester,  Mass.,  November  13-21,  and 
was  called  to  order  by  the  Worthy  Master,  with  all 


j.  h.  brigham's  fourth  term,  1894-1895       183 

the  officers  but  the  Overseer  and  Lady  Assistant 
Steward  present. 

Twenty-six  states  were  represented  by  the  same 
delegates,  except  the  following  five  states,  where 
changes  had  been  made :  California,  W.  W.  and  Mrs. 
Greer;  Delaware,  S.  H.  and  Mrs.  Messick;  Minnesota, 
Sarah  G.  and  Mr.  Baird;  Vermont,  C.  J.  and  Mrs.  Bell; 
Washington,  Augustus  and  Mrs.  High. 

The  Grange  had  very  decided  views  on  the  subject 
of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  and  the  type  of  man 
who  should  be  appointed  Secretary.  Worthy  Mas- 
ter Brigham  had  been  asked  to  tell  the  National  Farm- 
ers' Congress  what  kind  of  man  should  be  appointed 
Secretary  of  Agriculture.  He  included  what  he  told  the 
National  Farmers'  Congress  in  his  "annual  address," 
which,  because  of  its  historic  interest,  is  reprinted 
here : 

"In  response  to  your  invitation,  received  through  the  courtesy 
of  your  Secretary,  I  have  hastily  prepared  a  few  remarks  upon 
the  subject  assigned  me :  'The  Secretary  of  Agriculture — what 
he  should  be,  and  what  he  should  not  be.' 

"In  1876  a  resolution  was  introduced  into  and  adopted  by  the 
National  Grange  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  asking  for  the 
elevation  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  and  that  the  head 
of  the  department  be  made  a  member  of  the  President's  Cabinet, 
and  be  given  the  official  title  of  Secretary  of  Agriculture. 

"From  the  above-named  date,  the  Order  of  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandry was  unceasing  in  its  efforts  to  accomplish  this  purpose, 
and  temporary  defeats  did  not  dampen  its  ardor.  The  subject 
was  continually  forced  upon  the  attention  of  Congress  and  the 
people;  the  persistent  efforts  of  the  friends  of  the  proposed 
elevation  of  the  department  finally  attracted  attention,  and  it 
found  favor  in  the  eyes  of  other  agricultural  societies  and  asso- 
ciations, and  at  last  the  object  sought  was  secured. 

"It  is  hardly  to  be  presumed  that  all  this  labor  was  performed 
without  some  definite  object  in  view,  and  it  may  be  well  to  in- 
quire into  the  motives  of  those  who  favored  such  elevation  of  the 
department. 

"First.  It  seemed  to  be  the  opinion  of  the  farmers  that  the 
Chief  Executive  was  very  likely  to  be  selected  from  among  those 
who  have  made  their  homes  and  have  their  associations  in  the 
great  centers  of  trade  and  commerce,  and  would  probably  have 


I84  PATRONS  OF  HUSBANDRY 

very  little  practical  knowledge  of  the  real  wants  and  interests  of 
the  nation's  most  important  industry,  namely,  agriculture.  This 
being  true,  it  was  thought  best  to  secure  a  place  in  the  council 
chamber  of  the  Chief  Executive  for  a  representative  of  this  all- 
important  industry,  to  the  end  that  timely  suggestions  might  be 
made,  and  special  attention  directed  to  this  interest,  upon  which 
all  are  so  dependent.  The  farmers  were  the  more  anxious  to 
secure  this  elevation  of  the  department  for  the  reason  that  the 
feeling  was,  and  is  yet  strong,  that  agriculture  has  not  been  fairly 
treated  by  the  lawmaking  bodies  and  the  Chief  Executive  of  the 
nation. 

"Second.  It  was  also  believed  that  such  recognition  of  the  great 
importance  of  agriculture  would  tend  to  dignify  the  profession  or 
calling,  and  popularize  it  among  the  ambitious  young  men  and 
women  of  our  rural  districts,  and  save  to  agriculture  some  of  her 
brightest  jewels. 

"It  is  not  necessary  to  go  into  details  to  show  how  and  in  what 
way  the  Secretary,  by  his  increased  influence  and  power,  was  to 
advance  the  interests  of  agriculture.  There  is  so  much  that 
should  be  done  that  it  is  only  a  question  of  what  should  be  done 
first. 

"Now  to  the  subject  assigned  me — 'The  Secretary  of  Agricul- 
ture— what  he  should  be,  and  what  he  should  not  be.' 

"We  will  first  discuss  what  he  should  be.  It  is  hardly  probable 
that  all  the  requirements  will  be  found  to  perfection  in  any  one 
man,  but  there  are  qualifications  which  are  indispensable.  He 
should  be  a  practical  agriculturist,  one  whose  associations  and 
sympathies  are  with  the  real  farmers  of  our  country.  He  should 
be  a  man  of  recognized  ability  and  of  unimpeachable  integrity, 
of  broad  and  liberal  views,  ever  ready  to  receive  and  profit  by 
suggestions  coming  from  any  source,  no  matter  how  humble.  He 
should  be  a  good  judge  of  human  nature,  that  he  may  not  be 
easily  imposed  upon,  and  that  he  may  be  able  to  select  as  his 
helpers  those  who  will  render  the  best  service  in  the  department 
to  which  they  are  assigned.  He  should  be  a  man  of  courage  and 
firmness,  in  order  that  he  may  weed  out  the  inefficient  employees 
who  have  been  pensioned  upon  the  department  by  officials,  un- 
scrupulous place  seekers  and  others  having  'influence,'  and  be  able 
to  introduce  such  reforms  in  the  management  of  the  department 
as  the  real  interests  of  agriculture  require.  It  would  be  well  if 
he  should  possess  sufficient  independence  of  character  to  intro- 
duce a  little  'Jeffersonian  simplicity'  into  one  of  the  departments 
at  the  seat  of  government.  He  should  be  ready  at  all  times  to 
aid  every  movement  or  enterprise  calculated  to  help  the  farmers. 
He  should  maintain  harmonious  relations,  and  meet  with  every 


j.  h.  brigham's  fourth  term,  1894-1895       185 

national  organization  of  farmers  which  is  honestly  striving  by 
proper  means  to  lighten  the  burdens  and  increase  the  social, 
intellectual  and  financial  advantages  of  the  grand  army  engaged 
in  tilling  the  soil. 

"He  should  have  the  tact  that  would  enable  him  to  draw  to  his 
support  rather  than  repel  those  whom  he  should  serve.  He 
should  be  ever  ready  to  give  helpful  suggestions  and  friendly 
criticisms,  but  should  never  ridicule  nor  belittle  even  the  uncouth 
or  illiterate  among  those  he  is  expected  to  represent. 

"He  should  search  the  world  over  for  markets,  and  for  in- 
formation that  will  be  of  material  advantage  to  the  farmers;  he 
should  promptly  advise  them  of  every  fraud  or  deception  which 
is  being  practiced  upon  them  in  any  section  of  the  country.  He 
should  strive  in  every  way  to  make  the  department  useful  to  the 
farmers,  and  at  all  times  and  under  all  circumstances  maintain 
the  dignity  of  the  'noblest  calling  of  man.' 

"He  must  of  necessity  be  of  the  same  political  faith  as  his 
chief,  els:  his  counsel  might  be  distrusted  or  unheeded. 

"If  he  should  have  had  the  advantages  of  a  broad  and  liberal 
education,  it  would  greatly  increase  his  power  for  good,  and  in 
many  ways  aid  him  in  his  work. 

"What  he  should  not  be.  He  should  not  be  a  man  selected 
solely  for  political  services  rendered  his  party.  He  should  not 
be  a  man  who  would  not  feel  a  sense  of  great  responsibility  as 
the  representative  of  the  most  important  of  all  industries.  He 
should  not  be  a  man  who  would  feel  called  upon  to  apologize  for 
the  existence  of  a  department  of  agriculture  nor  feel  it  to  be  his 
duty  to  repress  every  effort  of  the  farmer  to  have  'his  say'  in  the 
affairs  of  government.  He  should  not  be  a  man  who  would  dis- 
courage efforts  to  form  organizations  among  farmers  for  the  cul- 
tivation of  a  fraternal  spirit  that  will  enable  them  to  brighten  and 
cheer  each  other  in  the  routine  labors  incident  to  rural  life — that 
will  enable  them  to  profit  by  and  enjoy  a  social  culture  and  a 
mental  training  absolutely  necessary  to  their  proper  development 
as  good  citizens  and  useful  members  of  society.  Neither  should 
he  discourage  organizations  for  the  purpose  of  utilizing  and  mak- 
ing available  their  power,  to  the  end  that  they  may  be  able  to 
protect  themselves  and  families  from  the  abuse  of  power,  made 
possible  and  probable  by  the  unification  and  combination  of  all  the 
other  great  industries  of  our  country. 

"He  should  not  be  a  man  who  would  hesitate  to  expend  money 
appropriated  for  the  department  in  efforts  to  protect  and  promote 
the  interest  of  farmers,  even  if  it  should  conflict  at  times  with 
personal  theories  and  views  entertained  by  himself. 

"He,  most  emphatically,  should  not  be  a  man  who  would  re- 


l86  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

main  silent  or  acquiesce  in  any  proposed  legislation  that  would 
be  unjust  to  agriculture.  He  should  not  be  a  mere  theorist  with- 
out practical  knowledge  of  the  industry  which  he  is  supposed  to 
represent;  nor  a  man  who  will  hesitate  to  demand  rights,  priv- 
ileges and  advantages  for  the  farmers  equal  to  those  enjoyed  by 
other  classes.  He  should  not  be  a  man  whose  business  interests 
or  social  relations  are  such  that  he  cannot  devote  all  his  time  and 
energy  to  the  work  of  the  department,  and  all  his  sympathy  and 
aid  to  those  whom  he  was  especially  selected  to  serve. 

"In  conclusion,  allow  me  to  say  that  I  entertain  the  opinion 
that  our  work  as  farmers  and  friends  and  co-workers  in  the  field 
of  agriculture  will  not  be  complete  in  this  line  until  the  Chief 
Executive  selected  by  the  people  shall  be  thoroughly  convinced 
that  it  is  not  only  right  but  politic  to  select  for  this  department 
some  man  who  will  be  everywhere  recognized  as  one  having 
special  qualifications  for  the  position,  and  one  who  will  have  the 
confidence  and  hearty  support  of  the  farming  classes." 

The  address  of  the  Worthy  Master  to  the  Farmers' 
Congress  was  later  specifically  indorsed  by  the  Na- 
tional Grange,  and  probably  no  better  "specifications" 
for  a  Secretary  of  Agriculture  have  ever  been  formu- 
lated. 

One  other  paragraph   from   the   Worthy  Master's 

forceful  address  was  as  follows : 

"The  ballot  in  the  hands  of  intelligent,  courageous  voters  will 
drive  vice  and  corruption  from  public  life  and  secure  forever  the 
'jewel  of  liberty  in  the  family  of  freedom.'  No  order  or  asso- 
ciation of  men  in  this  broad  land  has  done  so  much  to  enlighten 
and  instill  a  spirit  of  patriotism  and  independence  into  the  masses 
of  the  people  as  has  the  Order  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry, 
and  while  our  Order,  in  its  associate  capacity,  is  and  will  be  kept 
free  from  any  partisan  entanglement,  we  wish  to  have  it  dis- 
tinctly understood  that  the  farmers  are  henceforth  to  be  a  very 
important  factor  in  this  country.  We  shall  seek  to  know  our 
rights,  and  the  man  or  party  neglecting  or  betraying  the  interests 
of  agriculture  will  speedily  ascertain  that  the  farmers  have  the 
courage  to  administer  an  appropriate  and  effectual  rebuke." 

The  Treasurer's  report  showed  total  receipts  $25,- 
172.74.  Balance  in  Trust  Company,  $7,568.69.  The  re- 
port of  the  Executive  Committee  showed  an  increase 
in  funds  during  the  year  of  $573.81.  The  Secretary's 
report  showed  ninety-two  new  Granges. 


j.  h.  brigham's  fourth  term,  1894-1895       187 

An  aggressive  fight  for  free  rural  mail  delivery, 
was  inaugurated. 

A  multitude  of  resolutions  dealing  with  a  wide 
range  of  economic  questions  were  offered,  while  an- 
other group  of  resolutions,  which  sought  to  deal  with 
the  internal  machinery  of  the  organization,  were 
urged,  but  few  of  them  seem  to  have  been  seriously 
considered. 

This  being  the  time  for  the  semi-annual  election  of 
officers,  a  good  deal  of  interest,  as  usual,  was  mani- 
fested in  the  outcome.  The  rivalries  and  frequent  an- 
tagonisms that  were  always  more  or  less  visible  on 
these  occasions  were  never  revealed  in  the  records  of 
the  balloting  in  the  National  Grange. 

O.  H.  Kelley  and  Miss  Carrie  A.  Hall  attended 
this  session  for  the  first  time  since  Mr.  Kelley  resigned 
the  office  of  Secretary  at  Richmond  in  1878. 


CHAPTER    XVII 

J.   H.   Brigham's   Administration — Fifth  Term,   Two 

Years,  1896-1897 — Thirtieth  and  Thirty-First 

Sessions  of  the  National  Grange 

The  thirtieth  session  of  the  National  Grange  met  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  November  11,  1896.  All  the 
officers  elected  at  the  preceding  session  were  present  : 

Master — J.  H.  Brigham,  Ohio. 

Overseer — Aaron  Jones,  Indiana. 

Lecturer — Alpha  Messer,  Vermont. 

Steward — John  T.  Cox,  New  Jersey. 

Assistant  Steward — J.  A.  Newcomb,  Colorado. 

Chaplain— O.  H.  Hale,  New  York. 

Treasurer — Mrs.  Eva  S.  McDowell,  New  York. 

Secretary — John  Trimble,  District  of  Columbia. 

Gatekeeper — W.  E.  Harbaugh,  Missouri. 

Ceres — Mrs.  Lucy  G.  Smith,  Ohio. 

Pomona — Mrs.  Sarah  G.  Baird,  Minnesota. 

Flora — Mrs.  E.  L.  A.  Wiggin,  Maine. 

Lady  Assistant  Steward — Mrs.  S.  G.  Knott,  West  Virginia. 

Members  of  Executive  Committee — N.  J.  Bachelder,  New  Hamp- 
shire; J.  J.  Woodman,  Michigan;  Leonard  Rhone,  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Twenty-eight  states  were  represented  as  follows : 
California,  W.  W.  and  Mrs.  Greer;  Colorado,  J.  A.  and 
Mrs.  Newcomb ;  Connecticut,  S.  O.  and  Mrs.  Bowen ; 
Delaware,  S.  H.  and  Mrs.  Messick;  Illinois,  Oliver  and 
Mrs.  Wilson ;  Indiana,  Aaron  and  Mrs.  Jones  ;  Iowa,  A. 
B.  and  Mrs.  Judson;  Kansas,  A.  P.  and  Mrs.  Reardon ; 
Maine,  Edward  and  Mrs.  Wiggin;  Massachusetts,  E. 
D.  and  Mrs.  Howe;  Maryland,  Henry  O.  and  Mrs. 
Devries;  Michigan,  G.  B.  and  Mrs.  Horton ;  Minne- 
sota; Sarah  G.  and  Mr.  Baird;  Mississippi,  S.  L.  and 
Mrs.  Wilson;  Missouri,  D.  N.  Thompson;  New  Hamp- 
shire, N.  J.  and  Mrs.  Bachelder;  New  Jersey,  John  T. 
and  Mrs.  Cox ;  New  York,  O.  H.  and  Mrs.  Hale ;  Ohio, 

188 


j.  h.  brigham's  fifth  term,  1896-1897         189 

T.  R.  and  Mrs.  Smith ;  Oregon,  W.  M.  and  Mrs.  Hil- 
lary; Pennsylvania,  L.  and  Mrs.  Rhone;  Rhode 
Island,  Thomas  G.  Hazard ;  South  Carolina,  W.  K.  and 
Mrs.  Thompson;  Vermont,  C.  J.  and  Mrs.  Bell;  Vir- 
ginia, A.  J.  and  Mrs.  Wedderburn;  Washington,  Au- 
gustus and  Mrs.  High;  West  Virginia,  C.  H.  Knott; 
Wisconsin,  H.  E.  and  Mrs.  Huxley. 

John  Trimble  and  William  Saunders,  two  of  the 
founders  of  the  Order,  addressed  the  meeting  in  a 
pleasant,  reminiscent  manner. 

In  a  statesmanlike  "address"  Worthy  Master  J.  H. 
Brigham  discussed  many  questions  of  great  interest 
to  American  farmers. 

The  great  "free  silver"  presidential  contest  had  just 
closed  with  the  election  only  two  weeks  before.  The 
money  question  was  once  more  settled,  for  the  time 
at  least,  and  a  revision  of  the  tariff  was  certain  to 
follow.  The  country  was  just  passing  through 
one  of  the  most  disastrous  financial  panics  it  had 
ever  known.  The  Worthy  Master,  in  discussing  the 
agricultural  conditions,  said : 

"The  farmer  who  is  receiving  fair  returns  for  his  labor  and 
invested  capital  is  now  the  exception.  There  has  been  no  gen- 
eral failure  of  crops,  but  the  prices  received  for  most  of  them 
do  not  pay  for  the  labor  of  production.  Such  conditions  are  very 
discouraging  and  should  receive  the  best  thought  of  our  wisest 
men.  The  cause  or  causes  should  be  diligently  sought  out  and 
the  remedy  applied.  Some  of  the  alleged  causes  have  been  so 
thoroughly  discussed  in  the  recent  campaign  that  I  shall  not  at- 
tempt their  discussion  in  an  address  to  a  body  where  partisan 
subjects  are  barred." 

He  called  attention  to  the  inequitable  distribution 
of  the  burden  of  taxation.  He  declared  a  well-estab- 
lished truism  when  he  said : 

"The  farmer  is  bearing  far  more  than  his  proportion  of  the 
cost  of  maintaining  local  self-government,  and  will  obtain  no 
relief  except  through  his  own  well-directed  efforts." 


190  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

He  spoke  of  the  "single-tax"  in  these  words : 

"Occasionally  we  find  a  farmer  who  has  become  a  convert  to 
the  theory  of  those  who  advocate  a  tax  solely  upon  land  values 
to  defray  all  the  expenses  of  government,  but  the  masses  of 
farmers  will  be  slow  to  accept  this  theory." 

With  the  incoming  of  a  new  national  administration, 
and  the  outgoing  of  the  "unfortunate"  J.  Sterling  Mor- 
ton, the  Grange  and  the  country  turned  with  hope  to 
President-elect  McKinley.  With  these  conditions  in 
mind,  the  Worthy  Master  said  of  the  Department  of 
Agriculture : 

"The  farmers  labored  long  and  earnestly  to  secure  the  eleva- 
tion of  the  Department  of  Agriculture.  They  were  inspired 
with  the  hope  that  with  a  representative  of  agriculture  in  the 
Cabinet  this  great  industry,  upon  which  all  are  so  dependent, 
would  receive  the  attention  which  its  importance  demands  at  the 
hands  of  the  Chief  Executive.  They  also  believed  that  this  de- 
partment, with  ample  means  at  its  command,  could  give  much 
important  information  to  the  farmers  of  the  United  States ; 
information  that  would  be  not  only  valuable,  but  perfectly  reli- 
able. 

"The  farmers  should  be  the  first  to  know  actual  crop  condi- 
tions, not  only  in  this  country,  but  in  the  world,  as  without  this 
knowledge  they  are  liable  to  incur  great  losses  in  marketing  their 
crops.  The  department  should  be  in  close  touch  with  the  farm- 
ers; should  invite  suggestions  and  give  patient  and  careful  atten- 
tion to  the  same.  There  are  many  men  upon  the  farms  of  the 
United  States  who  are  good  thinkers  and  careful  observers.  The 
department  needs  the  help  of  all  of  them,  but  their  confidence 
must  be  secured  before  they  will  venture  to  offer  suggestions. 
The  department  should  take  a  lively  interest  in  every  organized 
effort  to  uplift  agriculture  and  broaden  and  develop  the  farmers 
of  our  country.  Good,  solid,  sensible,  practical  work  is  what  is 
needed  in  this  department. 

"The  farmers  may  have  expected  too  much.  There  may  be 
some  feeling  of  disappointment,  but  they  are  still  hopeful,  and 
will  be  very  loath  to  abandon  the  fond  anticipation  which  fol- 
lowed the  elevation  of  this  department." 

Later  in  the  session  a  special  committee  appointed 
to  deal  with  this  question  made  the  following  report, 
which  was  adopted : 


j.  h.  brigham's  fifth  term,  1896-1897         191 

"For  many  years  the  farmers  of  the  United  States  felt  the 
necessity  of  elevating  the  position  of  Commissioner  of  Agricul- 
ture to  a  Cabinet  office  as  Secretary  of  Agriculture,  in  order  to 
give  due  recognition  to  the  foundation  interest  of  all  prosperity 
in  this  country.  To  this  end  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  through 
their  Subordinate,  State  and  National  Granges,  labored  until  the 
object  sought  had  been  attained.  The  position  of  Secretary  of 
Agriculture  is  regarded  by  farmers  as  one  which  should  be  far- 
thest removed  from  politics  of  any  of  the  Cabinet  positions,  and 
one  that  should  at  all  times  be  filled  by  a  practical  farmer;  there- 
fore, be  it 

"Resolved,  by  the  National  Grange  in  thirtieth  annual  session, 
in  the  city  of  Washington,  D.  C,  that  we  respectfully  request  the 
President-elect  to  appoint  to  the  position  of  Secretary  of  Agricul- 
ture a  man  actively  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  who  has  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  the  farming  population  of  the  entire 
country." 

Following  the  above  committee  report  this  resolu- 
tion was  adopted : 

"Whereas,  This  National  Grange  has  placed  itself  on  record 
to  favor  the  appointment  of  a  competent  and  practical  farmer  at 
the  head  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture;  therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  three  be  and  is  hereby  ap- 
pointed, consisting  of  Brothers  Aaron  Jones  of  Indiana,  O.  H. 
Hale  of  New  York,  and  G.  B.  Horton  of  Michigan,  to  wait  upon 
Hon.  William  McKinley,  President-elect  of  the  United  States,  to 
urge  that  a  practical  farmer  be  honored  with  a  seat  in  his 
Cabinet,  and  that  said  member  be  a  Patron  of  Husbandry,  in 
recognition  of  the  wisdom  and  labor  of  our  Order  in  the  creation 
of  said  Department  of  Agriculture." 

The  outcome  of  this  call  upon  President-elect  Mc- 
Kinley was  the  appointment  of  Hon.  James  Wilson, 
an  Iowa  farmer,  as  Secretary,  and  Hon.  J.  H.  Brig- 
ham,  Master  of  the  National  Grange,  as  Assistant 
Secretary. 

The  Grange  was  just  winning  the  race  for  adequate 
rural  mail  delivery.  It  was  already  in  experimental 
operation,  and  the  Worthy  Master  urged  to  greater 
efforts  in  these  words  : 


192  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

"There  is  no  good  reason  why  the  benefits  of  free  mail  delivery- 
should  not  be  extended  to  the  rural  districts.  The  only  objec- 
tion offered  is  the  cost  of  the  service.  The  fact  is,  however,  that 
it  will  be  a  great  saving  of  time.  One  man  can  deliver  the  mail 
to  a  large  number  of  families,  each  of  which  would  send  some 
representative  to  the  postoffice  were  not  the  necessity  for  so  doing 
removed.  There  are  individuals  in  every  community  who  are 
unable  to  perform  heavy  work,  who  would  gladly  accept  this 
service  for  a  very  moderate  compensation.  I  recommend  that  at 
this  session  you  give  emphatic  expression  to  your  views  upon  this 
subject,  and  that  it  be  made  the  duty  of  some  committee  to 
present  the  matter  to  Congress,  and  make  a  vigorous  effort  to 
secure  the  legislation  necessary  to  the  accomplishment  of  this 
object.  I  have  no  doubt  of  the  fact  that  the  experiments  now 
being  made  will  demonstrate  the  feasibility  of  this  service,  and 
we  should  not  brook  unnecessary  delay  in  extending  it  through 
the  rural  districts.  It  is  a  good  time  for  the  farmer  to  make 
demands." 

This  session  of  the  National  Grange  was  notable  for 
the  fact  that  no  member  or  past  member  of  the  body 
had  passed  away  during  the  preceding  year,  which  had 
not  been  the  case  for  many  years  before,  and  the  like 
has  not  happened  since. 

The  report  of  the  Worthy  Treasurer  showed  the 
total  receipts  for  the  year,  $23,134.40;  total  expendi- 
tures, $17,843.72,  leaving  a  balance  of  $5,290.68. 

The  report  of  the  Executive  Committee  showed  the 
invested  capital  of  the  National  Grange  now  amounted 
to  $46,140. 

The  Secretary  reported  169  new  Granges  organized 
during  the  past  year. 

Hon.  Wm.  H.  Hatch  of  Missouri,  who  for  years  had 
championed  every  Grange  measure  in  Congress,  and 
was  the  author  of  the  "Hatch  Agricultural  Experiment 
Station  Law,"  was  reported  very  ill,  and  the  following 
resolution  was  adopted  and  a  copy  sent  to  him : 

"Resolved,  That  the  National  Grange,  Patrons  of  Husbandry, 
learns  with  deep  regret  of  the  illness  of  Hon.  W.  H.  Hatch  of 
Missouri,  who  for  nearly  a  lifetime  has  been  the  bold  and  able 
champion  of  agriculture,  and  this  Grange  wishes  to  express  to 


j.  h.  brigham's  fifth  term,  1896-1897         193 

him  our  sympathy  at  his  illness  and  our  thanks  for  his  work  in 
behalf  of  agriculture,  which  will  remain  as  monuments  more 
lasting  than  bronze  or  granite  through  generations  to  come,  and 
we  trust  that  a  Divine  Providence  will  soon  restore  him  to  health 
and  a  long  and  prosperous  career  of  usefulness." 

Hon.  M.  A.  Knapp,  member  of  the  Interstate  Com- 
merce Commission,  on  invitation,  came  before  the 
National  Grange  and  delivered  an  address  which  was 
printed  in  the  journal  of  the  session.  That  the  Grange 
had  any  considerable  influence  in  creating  the  Inter- 
state Commerce  Commission  has  been  disputed,  and 
even  so  good  an  authority  as  Dr.  S.  J.  Buck,  in  his 
"Granger  Movement,"  says :  "No  student  of  national 
railway  legislation  would  be  willing  to  accept  the 
claim  of  many  members  of  the  Order  that  it  was 
chiefly  instrumental  in  securing  the  passage  of  the 
Interstate  Commerce  Act." 

In  view  of  this  statement  it  may  be  of  interest  to 
note  what  Mr.  Knapp  said  on  that  subject: 

"It  is  well  known  that  your  organization,  and  the  great  num- 
bers which  it  represents,  were  among  the  most  active  and  potent 
influences  that  secured  from  Congress  the  initial  statute  for  the 
regulation  of  interstate  commerce,  and  it  gives  me  special  pleas- 
ure to  acknowledge  the  support  and  encouragement  which  your 
membership  has  given  the  commission  in  its  efforts  to  execute  the 
law.  No  class  of  persons  has  a  greater  interest  in  the  subject  of 
railroad  transportation  than  the  farmers  of  this  country,  and  none 
have  stronger  reasons  for  advocating  wise  and  useful  legislation 
for  the  control  of  public  carriers." 

The  "Lubin  Proposition,"  to  pay  an  export  bounty 
on  staple  agricultural  products,  came  up  again  and 
was  finally  disposed  of  by  this  resolution : 

"Resolved,  That  this  National  Grange  does  not,  and  never  has, 
indorsed  what  is  known  as  the  Lubin  Proposition,  to  pay  an  ex- 
port bounty  on  agricultural  products." 

While  the  National  Grange  usually  considered  a 
good  many  questions  at  each  session,  it  had  long  been 
its  policy  to  push  hard  upon  one  or  two  questions 
which  were  at  the  time  most  prominent  in  the  public 


194  PATRONS  OF    HUSBANDRY 

mind  and  most  likely  to  be  soon  disposed  of  by  Con- 
gress. For  the  last  two  or  three  years  the  legislation 
most  urgently  demanded  was  "free  rural  mail  delivery" 
and  "pure  food,"  which  were  both  soon  to  be  realized. 
At  all  times  the  Grange  sought  to  speak  out  clearly 
and  boldly  what  the  farmers  needed  in  the  way  of  state 
and  National  legislation,  and,  rising  above  partisan 
considerations,  let  all  men  and  all  parties  know  that 
they  were  in  earnest  and  determined  and  noted  the 
action  of  men  and  parties  as  to  their  course  on  the 
questions  and  measures  necessary  to  place  agricul- 
tural industries  on  equal  footing  with  other  interests 
of  the  country. 

Dr.  Harvey  W.  Wiley  of  the  agricultural  depart- 
ment, having  been  invited  by  the  Grange,  appeared 
and  delivered  a  lengthy  and  illuminating  address  on 
the  subject  of  "Adulteration  of  Foods."  After  show- 
ing the  alarming  extent  to  which  our  food  products 
are  adulterated,  he  closed  his  address  with  these  words : 

"As  has  before  been  intimated  in  this  address,  the  remedy 
against  all  these  things  lies  clearly  in  the  power  of  the  people. 
Wise  laws  wisely  administered,  a  careful  system  of  inspection,  a 
demand  for  pure  food,  will  secure  the  people  in  their  rights.  It 
is  not  the  rich  for  whom  we  should  work,  but  the  poor;  and  they 
should  be  protected  against  frauds  in  food — frauds  not  so  danger- 
ous on  account  of  being  deleterious  to  health,  as  because  of  their 
pretensions  to  furnish  to  the  poorer  part  of  our  people  a  food 
ostensibly  pure  and  nutritious,  but  in  reality  valueless.  It  is  not 
supposed  for  a  moment  that  any  system  of  legislation  can  en- 
tirely prevent  the  perpetration  of  frauds  upon  the  community, 
but  at  least  these  crimes  can  be  made  punishable,  and  their  per- 
petrators may  be  compelled  to  endure  the  penalty  of  their  mis- 
deeds." 

In  a  committee  report  Geo.  B.  Horton,  Master  of 
the  Michigan  State  Grange,  set  up  the  necessity  for 
the  Grange  and  its  work  in  these  eloquent  words : 

"It  reaches  out  in  all  directions,  and  includes  everything  per- 
taining to  the  farmer,  his  family,  his  fields,  stock  and  barns,  his 
social,  political  and  influential  standing.  Yea,  above  all,  and  in- 
cluding all  of  these,  the  maintenance  of  his  class  in  that  social 


j.  h.  brigham's  fifth  term,  1896-1897         195 

position  our  form  of  government  intends  he  should  occupy  for  all 
time,  and  that  which  the  tillers  of  the  soil  under  every  known 
government  since  the  world  began  have  allowed  to  gradually  and 
undeservedly,  but  surely,  to  pass  from  them.  We  know  not  what 
may  be  the  ideal  of  European  enlightenment,  but  for  our  country 
it  should  stand  for  that  just  equilibrium  which  guarantees  and 
protects  our  people,  even  the  humblest  toiler,  in  the  full  benefits 
and  enjoyment  of  his  labors.  How  closely,  and  even  critically 
should  the  producing  classes  of  this  country  study  the  many  and 
various  propositions  presented  for  our  indorsement  by  political 
parties,  even  our  own,  to  be  sure  that  there  is  not  somewhere 
concealed  behind  the  more  important  features  a  principle  which, 
if  indorsed,  will,  in  its  natural  working,  tend  toward  and  assist 
in  establishing  those  class  distinctions  which  exist  across  the 
water  in  the  east,  and  which  we  have  been  so  often  warned 
against  in  this  country  by  our  most  thoughtful  men.  'Eternal 
vigilance  is  the  price  of  liberty,'  and  was  never  more  applicable 
than  today.  Trusts,  combines  and  corporate  greed  are  aggressive 
and  persistent.  Frequently  accomplishing  good  in  the  successful 
execution  and  accomplishment  of  great  enterprises,  which  are 
past  the  power  of  individuals  to  perform,  more  commonly  their 
operations  are  a  menace  to  the  rights  of  the  people.  Those  re- 
fined sensibilities  of  the  individual  man  which  lead  him  to  regard 
his  neighbor's  landmark  are  absorbed  and  lost  in  the  combine  and 
trust,  and  the  spirit  of  conquest,  regardless  of  the  rights  of 
others,  takes  its  place. 

"How  can  we  rest  in  quiet  composure  with  the  handwriting  on 
the  wall,  which  reads  to  us :  Your  children  and  your  children's 
children  will  gradually  settle  to  lower  positions  in  the  social 
spheres  of  life,  because  of  rights  and  privileges  gone,  and  the 
history  of  other  worlds  will  have  repeated  itself  here,  unless  you 
are  vigilant  and  watchful  now?  We  say,  'Let  us  heed  the  warn- 
ing and  escape  the  doom.' 

"The  Order  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry  has  come  as  the 
savior  of  the  farmers  from  these  results.  The  good  of  the  Order 
demands  that  we  use  it  for  this  protection,  and  that  in  our  coun- 
cils we  take  such  action  as  will  result  in  educating  our  members 
to  that  point  of  independence  so  essential  in  bringing  about  a 
more  united  action  by  farmers.  To  these  ends  the  Order  must 
be  perpetuated. 

"As  never  before,  we  see  people  engaged  in  other  pursuits 
working  in  harmony  for  advantages  to  themselves,  and  the  in- 
clinations and  tendencies  are  for  the  great  combined  interests  of 
the  country  to  form  closer  unions.  In  all  this  what  position  is 
the  farmer  to  take?    Will  those  engaged  in  other  pursuits  take 


196  PATRONS  OF  HUSBANDRY 

care  of  us  and  see  that  justice  is  done?  Or  must  we  do  this  for 
ourselves?  The  farmer's  interests  are  in  general  the  same.  Are 
we  working  harmoniously  together?  Or  are  we  quarreling  among 
ourselves?  These  are  important  questions  for  every  farmer  to 
consider.  It  is  useless  for  the  farmer  to  lament  the  condition  of 
combined  and  opposing  forces  as  being  wrong;  for  wrong  as  it 
may  be,  it  now  exists,  and  we  have  to  meet  it  and  deal  with  it, 
and  we  know  of  no  better  way  than  for  the  Grange  to  educate 
farmers  to  stand  closely  by  each  other  as  farmers,  and,  if  neces- 
sary, regardless  of  party  lines,  as  do  people  of  other  interests. 
To  do  other  than  this  makes  our  class  and  interests  an  easy  prey 
to  unsympathetic  and  designing  men." 

At  every  session  of  the  National  Grange  since  the 
first  one,  the  subject  of  co-operation  had  often  been 
prominently  before  the  body,  but  direct  Grange  co- 
operation, in  a  commercial  way,  had  not  been  much 
attempted  since  the  early  eighties.  No  greater  store 
of  literature  on  that  subject  may  be  found  than  that 
in  the  Journal  of  Proceedings  of  that  body.  The 
Grange  was  essentially  co-operative  in  all  its  work 
and  methods,  but  for  a  number  of  years  its  efforts  at 
co-operation  were  mainly  along  social,  educational 
and  legislative  lines.  The  disastrous  panic  of  1893, 
which  nearly  crushed  the  life  out  of  agriculture  as  well 
as  other  industries,  and  which  had  been  dragging  its 
blighting  length  along  for  four  years,  compelled  the 
Grange  and  the  farmers  to  renew  their  efforts  at  co- 
operative buying  and  selling,  but  these  efforts  were 
mainly  limited  to  what  was  known  as  the  "contract 
system."  The  thirtieth  session  of  the  National  Grange 
found  the  farmers  somewhat  more  hopeful  than  for 
several  years  past. 

The  only  election  at  this  session  was  the  re-election 
of  Leonard  Rhone,  of  Pennsylvania,  as  member  of  the 
Executive  Committee. 

The  thirty-first  session  of  the  National  Grange  met 
at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  November  10  to  18,  1897.  All  the 
officers  except  Ceres  were  in  their  places. 


j.  h.  brigham's  fifth  term,  1896-1897         197 

Twenty-seven  states  were  represented  by  the  same 
delegates  as  the  previous  session  except  that  changes 
had  been  made  as  follows :  Kansas,  H.  and  Mrs. 
Rhoades;  Ohio,  S.  H.  and  Mrs.  Ellis;  Rhode  Island, 
J.  A.  and  Mrs.  Tillinghast;  West  Virginia,  T.  C.  and 
Mrs.  Atkeson. 

This  was  the  third  time  S.  H.  Ellis  had  been 
elected  Master  of  the  Ohio  State  Grange.  He  was  the 
first  Master,  followed  by  J.  H.  Brigham,  elected  again 
and  followed  by  T.  R.  Smith,  and  now  given  the  third 
term.  No  other  man  has  ever  had  this  unique  ex- 
perience. 

On  the  convening  of  this  session  of  the  National 
Grange,  the  Credentials  Committee  reported  only  19 
states  as  entitled  to  representation.  Later  eight  other 
states  were  admitted. 

Worthy  Master  Brigham  had  been  made  Assistant 
Secretary  of  Agriculture  soon  after  the  inauguration 
of  President  McKinley,  and  he  was  not  a  candidate 
for  re-election  as  Master  of  the  National  Grange, 
having  served  four  full  terms  and  one  year  of  Put 
Darden's  second  term,  or  nine  years  in  all.  No  other 
Master  before  or  since  has  served  so  long.  His  suc- 
cessor, Aaron  Jones,  served  eight  years,  but  no  other 
Master  has  served  more  than  six  years. 

The  Worthy  Master,  in  his  last  "annual  address," 
dealt  mainly  with  routine  matters  and  especially  those 
things  that  pertain  to  the  safe  guidance  of  the  Grange. 
He  spoke  of  the  improved  conditions  of  agricul- 
ture, and  urged  the  diversification  of  crops  as  a  remedy 
for  overproduction. 

Speaking  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  he  said : 
"It  has  always  been  the  desire  of  the  farmers  that  the 
head  of  this  Department  should  be  a  practical  farmer, 
and  the  realization  of  our  desires  affords  us  great  satis- 
faction. The  present  Secretary  of  Agriculture  is  a 
progressive  western  farmer  from  one  of  the  foremost 
agricultural    states,    and    is   doing  everything   in    his 


198  PATRONS  OF  HUSBANDRY 

power  to  promote  the  interests  of  agriculture  in  every 
section  of  our  country." 

He  recommended  thorough  inspection  of  meat 
products,  the  utilization  of  the  weather  bureau  for 
agriculture,  the  rigid  enforcement  of  the  oleomargarine 
law,  pure  food  regulations  and  impartial  tariff  legislation. 

"Rural  free  delivery  has  already  been  enforced  by 
the  National  Grange,  and  I  am  glad  to  say  authorita- 
tively that  the  Postoffice  Department  is  making  ex- 
periments to  test  the  feasibility  of  the  system."  He 
also  recommended  the  establishment  of  postal  savings 
banks,  which  from  this  time  forward  until  established 
became  a  fixed  Grange  measure.  In  the  closing  para- 
graph, he  virtually  declined  a  re-election  in  these 
words :  "The  relief  that  follows  the  transfer  to  an- 
other of  responsible  duties  will  be  very  welcome,  but 
I  shall  lose  none  of  my  interest  in  the  grand  work  of 
the  Order." 

Thus  passed  from  Grange  activity  one  of  its  strong- 
est characters. 

The  report  of  the  Treasurer  showed  total  receipts, 
$20,120.30;  total  expenditures,  $13,816.88;  leaving  a 
balance  of  $6,303.42. 

The  report  of  the  Executive  Committee  showed  an 
increase  in  funds  for  the  year  of  $882.74.  A  hundred 
and  forty-one  new  Granges  were  organized  and  74  re- 
organized during  the  year. 

David  Lubin,  later  the  founder  of  the  Interna- 
tional Institute  of  Agriculture  at  Rome,  Italy,  was 
present  and,  on  invitation  of  the  Worthy  Master,  ad- 
dressed the  Grange  on  the  subject  of  "Export  Bounty 
on  Staple  Farm  Products."  This  was  the  last  time  Mr. 
Lubin  ever  appeared  before  the  National  Grange  in 
advocacy  of  what  was  then  known  as  the  "Lubin 
Proposition." 

At  this  session  Gatekeeper  W.  E.  Harbaugh,  in  his 
report,  raised  some  pertinent  questions: 


j.  h.  brigham's  fifth  term,  1896-1897         199 

"One  of  the  sound  principles,"  he  said,  "with  which  the  Grange 
started  was  this,  that  no  man  should  belong  to  it  unless  he  had  a 
direct  interest  in  tilling  the  soil.  Everybody  has  some  interest  in 
tilling  the  soil,  because  all  must  live  by  eating.  But  the  Granger's 
interest  in  tilling  the  soil  is  personal,  professional  and  direct. 
The  lawyer's  business  is  to  practice  law;  the  doctor's  business  is 
to  practice  medicine;  the  manufacturer's  business  is  manufactur- 
ing his  wares;  and  the  farmer's  business  is  to  farm  or  till  the 
soil.  When  lawyers  meet  to  consider  their  interests  as  a  class, 
they  do  not  ask  farmers  to  tell  them  what  to  do  or  where  their 
interest  lies ;  when  doctors  meet  to  consider  their  business  as  pro- 
fessional men,  they  do  not  send  for  farmers  to  teach  them  where 
their  interest  lies;  manufacturers  do  not  invite  farmers  to  sit  in 
counsel  with  them  while  considering  their  interests.  In  like  man- 
ner the  farmer  should  know  his  own  affairs  and  look  after  them 
himself  and  suffer  no  dictation  from  without.  As  Gatekeeper,  per- 
mit me  to  ask  if  we  are  confining  our  membership  strictly  to  those 
who  have  a  direct,  personal  and  professional  interest  in  farming 
or  cultivating  the  soil?  Are  any  admitted  within  our  gates  who 
have  not  a  sufficient  direct  interest  in  tilling  the  soil,  or  may  have 
some  interest  in  conflict  with  our  purposes? 

"If  a  man  can  stand  on  his  feet  in  a  crowded  room  and  talk 
well,  it  multiplies  his  force  as  a  man  by  ten,  or  possibly  twenty. 
A  trained  lawyer  among  plain  farmers,  unaccustomed  to  public 
speaking,  has  every  advantage  in  the  world.  He  is  like  a  lion 
among  sheep.  The  sheep  are  no  doubt  better  than  the  lion,  but 
this  does  not  keep  them  from  being  eaten  up  by  the  lion. 

"A  trained  and  gifted  speaker  may  be  on  the  wrong  side  of  a 
question  and  yet  may  win,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  he  is 
wrong  all  the  time.  A  plain,  honest  farmer  may  be  on  the  right 
side  of  a  question  in  debate  and  yet  lose  his  side,  notwithstand- 
ing the  fact  he  is  right  all  the  time.  He  may  not  have  the  gift  of 
language  to  present  forcibly  his  side  of  the  case,  or  he  may  have 
sufficient  language  but  not  self-control  while  addressing  large 
audiences.  It  is  unfair  to  pit  a  farmer  against  a  lawyer  in  de- 
bate, as  it  would  be  manifestly  unfair  to  pit  a  lawyer  against  a 
farmer  in  raising  a  crop.  Farmers  ought  to  know  their  own  busi- 
ness and  they  ought  to  know  how  to  attend  to  it." 

That  last  sentence  is  eminently  true,  and  it  was  upon 
that  rock  the  Grange  was  founded.  Evidently,  one  of 
the  weaknesses  in  the  Grange  was  the  liberality  with 
which  it  construed  its  own  law  of  eligibility  for  mem- 
bership in  the  Order.  Just  to  the  extent  that  the 
Grange  ceased  to  be  an  organization  of  bona  fide  farm- 


200  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

ers  did  its  real  usefulness  to  productive  agriculture 
disappear.  The  closer  it  held  to  the  "Declaration 
of  Purposes"  the  better  for  the  Grange  and  for  the 
farmers. 

Secretary  of  Agriculture  James  Wilson  ran  up  from 
Washington  to  meet  his  fellow  Grangers,  and,  after 
being  duly  introduced,  delivered  a  very  pleasing 
address,  only  the  first  paragraph  of  which  follows : 

"The  National  Grange  represents  the  farming  classes  of  our 
people,  the  half  of  the  nation,  the  conservative  half,  the  quiet, 
thinking  half,  the  people  who  act  as  referees  when  there  is  com- 
motion and  settle  things  rightly.  I  congratulate  you  on  the  im- 
portant position  you  occupy,  and  the  dignified  manner  in  which 
you  discharge  the  responsibilities  resting  upon  you,  that  are  not 
circumscribed  by  state  lines,  but  grasp  the  entire  country  within 
their  span.  You  do  not  enact  statutes,  but  your  counsel  is  sought 
by  the  lawmaker,  and  when  he  is  heedless  in  exercising  power, 
you  are  sure  to  be  judicious  in  further  extension  of  it." 

This  was  a  noticeable  contrast  to  the  attitude  of  his 
predecessor.  Secretary  Wilson  was  a  man  of  the  peo- 
ple and  in  hearty  sympathy  with  the  toilers  who  live 
in  the  open  country  and  feed  the  nation. 

The  National  Grange  demanded  the  election  of 
United  States  Senators  by  direct  vote  of  the  people, 
the  enactment  of  an  adequate  free  rural  mail  delivery 
law,  the  establishment  of  a  general  system  of  postal 
savings  banks,  the  appointment  of  a  nonpartisan 
tariff  commission,  and  many  other  important  matters. 

This  was  the  time  of  the  biennial  election,  and  prob- 
ably no  election  in  the  National  Grange  has  ever  been 
so  hotly  contested. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

Aaron  Jones'  Administration — First  Term,  Two  Years, 

i8g8-i8g9— Thirty-Second  and  Thirty-Third 

Sessions  of  the  National  Grange 

At  the  close  of  the  thirty-first  session  of  the  Na- 
tional Grange,  which  marked  the  beginning  of  Aaron 
Jones'  administration,  there  was  a  good  deal  of  fac- 
tionalism existing,  resulting  largely  from  rivalry  of 
leadership,  but  more  fundamentally  from  differences 
of  opinion  that  had  developed  over  economic  questions 
which  had  recently  attracted  the  attention  of  the  Na- 
tional Grange. 

For  the  first  year  at  least  the  best  work  of  the  new 
Master  was  the  diplomatic  effort  he  made  to  heal  these 
differences  and  antagonisms,  which  he  was  very  suc- 
cessful in  doing.  By  the  time  of  the  next  annual 
meeting  entire  harmony  prevailed. 

The  thirty-second  session  of  the  National  Grange 
met  at  Concord,  N.  H.,  November  16-23,  1898.  All 
the  officers  were  present: 

Master — Aaron  Jones,  Indiana. 
Overseer — O.  H.  Hale,  New  York. 
Lecturer — Alpha  Messer,  Vermont. 
Steward — John  T.  Cox,  New  Jersey. 
Assistant  Steward — J.  A.  Newcomb,  Colorado. 
Chaplain — S.  O.  Bowen,  Connecticnt. 
Treasurer — Mrs.  Eva  S.  McDowell,  Ohio. 
Secretary — John  Trimble,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Gatekeeper — A.  B.  Judson,  Iowa. 
Ceres — Mrs.  Lena  M.  Messick,  Delaware. 
Pomona — Mrs.  Sarah  G.  Baird,  Minnesota. 
Flora— Mrs.  E.  L.  A.  Wiggin,  Maine. 
Lady  Assistant  Steward— Mrs.  A.  M.  Horton,  Michigan. 
Members  of  Executive  Committee— N.  J.  Bachelder,  J.  J.  Wood- 
man, Leonard  Rhone. 

201 


202  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

Twenty-six  states  were  represented  as  follows: 
California,  W.  W.  and  Mrs.  Greer;  Colorado,  J.  A.  and 
Mrs.  Newcomb;  Connecticut,  S.  O.  and  Mrs.  Bowen; 
Delaware,  S.  H.  and  Mrs.  Messick;  Illinois,  O.  and 
Mrs.  Wilson;  Indiana,  A.  and  Mrs.  Jones;  Iowa,  A.  B. 
and  Mrs.  Judson;  Kansas,  H.  and  Mrs.  Rhoades; 
Maine,  O.  and  Mrs.  Gardner;  Maryland,  J.  B.  and  Mrs. 
Ager;  Massachusetts,  W.  C.  and  Mrs.  Jewett;  Mich- 
igan, G.  B.  and  Mrs.  Horton;  Minnesota,  Sarah  G. 
and  Mr.  Baird;  Missouri,  C.  O.  and  Mrs.  Raine; 
New  Hampshire,  N.  J.  and  Mrs.  Bachelder;  New 
Jersey,  J.  T.  and  Mrs.  Cox;  New  York,  E.  B. 
and  Mrs.  Norris;  Ohio,  S.  H.  and  Mrs.  Ellis;  Ore- 
gon, W.  M.  and  Mrs.  Hillary;  Pennsylvania,  L. 
and  Mrs.  Rhone;  Rhode  Island,  J.  A.  and  Mrs.  Tilling- 
hast;  South  Carolina,  W.  K.  and  Mrs.  Thompson; 
Vermont;  C.  J.  and  Mrs.  Bell;  Washington,  A.  and 
Mrs.  High;  West  Virginia,  T.  C.  and  Mrs.  Atkeson; 
Wisconsin,  H.  E.  and  Mrs.  Huxley. 

This  was  the  first  session  over  which  Aaron  Jones 
had  presided  as  Master,  and,  quite  naturally,  there 
was  a  good  deal  of  interest  manifested  in  what  he 
was  to  say  in  his  "annual  address."  He  probably 
never  delivered  a  more  conservative,  diplomatic  and 
carefully  prepared  address  during  the  whole  time 
of  his  service  as  Master.  "The  Order  is  grow- 
ing," said  he,  "in  harmony  and  unity  of  purpose 
to  focus  thought  along  lines  that  will  advance 
the  general  good,  harmonize  and  unify  our  people, 
and  lead  the  farming  population  to  think  for  them- 
selves and  act  on  what  to  them  seems  right  and 
to  their  best  interest." 

He  discussed  the  work  of  the  last  year,  the  growing 
condition  of  the  Order,  the  reviving  prosperity  of  agri- 
culture, the  accomplishment  of  co-operation,  and  the 
war  with  Spain,  which  had  just  terminated,  and  the 
peace  commission  which  was  then  in  session  at  Paris. 

He  congratulated  the  Grange  upon  another  victory 


Joseph    H.    Brigham,    Ohio,    eighth    Master    of    the    National 

Grange 


Aaron  Jones,  Indiana,  ninth  Master  of  the  National  Grange. 


AARON   JONES'   FIRST  TERM — 1 898- 1 899  203 

in  a  decision  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court,  "in 
an  opinion  handed  down  in  October  last,  which  up- 
holds and  sustains  and  declares  constitutional  the 
Sherman  Anti-Trust  Law." 

On  the  whole  the  address  was  forceful  and  states- 
manlike, and  every  word  of  it  breathed  a  spirit  of 
optimism  and  co-operation  in  Grange  work  and  poli- 
cies. 

The  Worthy  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Eva  S.  McDowell, 
reported  the  total  receipts  for  the  year,  $25,065.21; 
total  disbursements,  $15,230.38,  leaving  a  balance  of 
$9,834.83. 

The  Executive  Committee  reported  the  total  funds 
for  the  year  $53,134.83,  a  gain  of  $821.41.  In  com- 
menting upon  the  sound  financial  condition  of  the 
Order,  the  Executive  Committee  said : 

"The  excess  of  $821.41  of  receipts  over  expenditures  for  the 
past  year  has  been  saved  by  careful  and  judicious  expenditures  of 
the  special  appropriations  made  at  the  last  session,  and  that 
amount  is  not  too  large  a  margin  to  rely  upon  in  making  future 
estimates.  Had  the  special  appropriations  made  at  the  last  ses- 
sion all  been  used  the  surplus  would  have  been  exhausted  and  a 
deficiency  of  over  $900  created. 

"It  is  a  well-known  principle  in  all  business  matters,  whether 
national,  co-operative,  or  individual,  that  the  income  must  be 
sufficient  to  cover  all  expenditures  or  financial  ruin  is,  sooner  or 
later,  the  result;  and  the  success  of  business  enterprises  is  meas- 
ured by  the  surplus  over  disbursements. 

"No  fraternal  order  or  association  can  maintain  a  useful  ex- 
istence for  any  considerable  length  of  time  that  fails  to  provide 
a  safe  and  well-devised  financial  system  which  will  furnish  not 
only  means  for  current  expenses,  but  sufficient  to  accumulate 
and  maintain  a  balance  in  its  treasury,  or,  invested,  sufficient 
to  meet  any  emergency  which  may  be  likely  to  arise.  When  that 
point  is  reached  the  association  is  prepared  to  enter  upon  its 
mission  of  usefulness.  Our  Order  has  reached  that  condition  in 
its  history,  and  its  prosperity,  perpetuity  and  the  fulfillment  of  its 
glorious  mission,  depend  upon  maintaining  it.  Since  the  organ- 
ization of  the  Order,  a  score  or  more  of  other  farmers'  organiza- 
tions have  sprung  into  existence,  contesting  the  field  with  the 
Grange,  and  some  of  them  claiming  superiority  over  it,  on  ac- 


204  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

count  of  their  low  fees  and  dues,  and  little  expense  to  the  mem- 
bership. In  some  states,  they  nearly  or  quite  supplanted  the 
Grange,  but  as  national  organizations  they  have  passed  away, 
and  one  of  the  main  causes  of  their  failure  was  empty  treasuries." 

The  absolute  soundness  of  the  foregoing  is  manifest, 
and  much  of  the  financial  stability  of  the  National 
Grange  in  its  most  trying  years  depended  upon  the 
business  acumen  of  its  Executive  Committee.  Like 
all  popular  or  representative  bodies  the  National 
Grange  was  prone  to  make  poorly  considered  appro- 
priations of  other  people's  money.  Fortunately  for  the 
Order  it  always  kept  some  of  its  sanest,  safest 
men  on  guard  on  the  Executive  Committee,  and 
the  above  quotation  is  made  to  show  the  rational  view 
it  took  of  Grange  finances  at  that  time. 

The  Secretary  reported  that  130  new  Granges  had 
been  organized  during  the  year  and  95  reorganized. 

For  the  fourth  time  the  National  Grange  adopted  a 
resolution  favoring  "the  enactment  by  Congress  of 
such  legislation  as  will  insure  the  building  and  owner- 
ship of  the  Nicaragua  Canal  by  the  United  States." 

The  only  election  at  this  session  was  that  of  S.  H. 
Messick  of  Delaware  as  a  member  of  the  Executive 
Committee. 

This  was  the  shortest  session  of  the  National  Grange 
ever  held,  being  in  session  only  eight  days,  including 
Sunday,  meeting  on  Wednesday  and  closing  the  fol- 
lowing Wednesday.  Though  there  has  been  consider- 
able demand  for  shorter  sessions,  it  has  rarely  been 
practicable  to  close  before  Friday  after  a  ten-day 
session. 

The  thirty-third  session  of  the  National  Grange  met 
at  Springfield,  Ohio,  November  15-23,  1899.  All  the 
officers  were  present. 

Twenty-six  states  were  represented  by  the  same 
delegates  as  at  last  session,  with  the  following  excep- 
tions:    California,  G.  W.  and  Mrs.  Worthen;  Dela- 


AARON    JONES'   FIRST   TERM — 1898-1899  205 

ware,  A  and  Mrs.  Naudain;  New  Jersey,  E.  and  Mrs. 
Braddock;  Pennsylvania,  W.  F.  and  Mrs.  Hill. 

Worthy  Master  Jones  opened  his  "address"  with 
these  words : 

"I  congratulate  the  National  Grange  on  the  harmony,  good 
will  and  fraternal  spirit  that  actuate  the  Order  throughout  the 
country,  and  of  the  restoration  of  confidence  of  farmers  in  each 
other — confidence  in  the  sincerity  of  purposes  and  honesty  and 
integrity  in  business  matters,  confidence  in  their  ability  to  main- 
tain significant  organization." 

Undoubtedly  the  Grange  was  to  be  congratulated 
upon  the  restoration  of  harmony,  and  the  wise  policy 
pursued  by  the  Worthy  Master  was  largely  respon- 
sible for  it.  But  that  alone  was  not  responsible.  Con- 
ditions in  the  country  were  improving  and  the  reaction 
was  beginning  to  be  felt  along  all  lines  of  industry, 
the  general  revival  of  business  conditions  had 
done  much  to  eliminate  all  subjects  of  controversy 
and  the  Grange  was  beginning  to  respond  to  the  re- 
turn of  more  prosperous  times. 

The  whole  address  was  sound  in  philosophy,  giving 
evidence  of  mature  thought  and  careful  preparation. 
He  congratulated  the  Order  on  the  progress  of  ''free 
rural  mail  delivery,"  advocated  national  aid  to 
"good  road"  building  and  introduced  the  most  excel- 
lent practice  of  summarizing  the  things  that  the  Na- 
tional Grange  stood  for  at  that  time. 

The  Worthy  Treasurer  reported  total  receipts,  $30,- 
818.07;  total  expenditures,  $21,695.74;  leaving  a  bal- 
ance of  $9,122.33. 

The  Executive  Committee  reported  total  funds, 
$55,832.33.  Increase  of  funds  during  the  year 
$2,697.50.  The  committee  also  reported  that  at  the 
last  session  it  was  adopted,  "that  the  Temple  Fund, 
paid  to  the  National  Grange  by  several  parties,  be  re- 
turned on  application  to  the  donors,  and  that  the 
Executive  Committee  is  hereby  instructed  to  carry  into 
effect  the  foregoing  resolution."  For  failure  to  com- 
ply with  this  order  the  committee  said: 


206  PATRONS  OF  HUSBANDRY 

"Applications  for  refunding  the  money  were  received  and  the 
questions  of  carrying  out  the  intention  of  the  resolution  carefully 
considered  by  the  committee.  As  it  appeared  that  the  'Temple 
Fund'  had  been  raised,  principally  by  collections,  small  donations, 
receipts  of  entertainments  and  festivals,  from  the  sale  of  flowers 
and  fancywork  by  sisters  of  the  Order,  and  sometimes  sent  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  National  Grange  by  the  Subordinate  or  County 
Granges,  and  in  other  cases  by  the  chairman  of  the  State  Grange 
Committee  on  Woman's  Work  in  the  Grange,  and  as  the  appli- 
cants for  the  money  did  not  appear  to  be  the  actual  donors,  the 
conclusion  was  reached  that  the  money  could  not  be  rightfully 
and  legally  refunded  under  the  resolution.  The  subject  is  there- 
fore referred  back  to  the  National  Grange  for  further  and  more 
definite  action." 

This  "fund,"  which  was  contributed  for  the  purpose 
of  building  a  "Temple  to  Ceres"  or  "Agriculture"  at 
Washington  amounted  to  a  little  over  $700,  and  no 
further  action  was  taken  in  the  matter  until  the  forty- 
ninth  session,  when  an  order  was  made  requiring  the 
Executive  Committee  to  "loan  the  fund  on  real  estate 
security." 

The  Secretary  reported  that  146  new  Granges  had 
been  organized  and  74  reorganized. 

The  National  Grange  expressed  its  satisfaction  by 
resolving : 

"That  we  heartily  indorse  the  efforts  now  being  made  by  the 
National  Department  of  Agriculture  under  the  wise  and  judicious 
management  and  direction  of  Secretary  Wilson  and  Assistant 
Secretary  Brigham  to  open  foreign  markets  for  the  surplus  grain, 
meat  and  other  agricultural  products  of  this  country." 

Evidently  an  entente  cordiale  had  been  established 
between  the  Department  of  Agriculture  and  the 
Grange. 

The  subject  of  "ship  subsidy"  was  brought  before 
this  session  of  the  National  Grange,  but  it  was  flatly 
turned  down,  and  the  Grange  has  many  times  since 
gone  on  record  against  any  kind  of  "subsidy,"  much  to 
the  discomfort  of  the  subsidy  seekers. 

Resolutions  were  adopted  demanding  legislation  for 
the  protection  of  the  dairy  industry,  against  food  adul- 
teration, favoring  the  examination  and  survey  of  the 


AARON   JONES'   FIRST  TERM — 1898-1899  207 

forests  of  our  mountains,  favoring  the  enactment  of  a 
law  governing  the  use  and  manufacture  of  shoddy,  and 
favoring  the  settlement  of  difficulties  by  arbitration. 

The  trust  question  was  receiving  much  attention  be- 
cause of  the  increase  of  trusts  following  the  revival  of 
business.  Previous  to  this  time  the  Grange  had  had 
much  to  say  about  corporations  and  monopolies,  but 
now  found  some  new  problems  being  forced  upon  it. 
A  special  committee  composed  of  fourteen  members 
was  selected  to  consider  and  report  upon  the  subject  of 
"Trusts."    This  report  was  of  importance  at  the  time : 

"We,  your  special  Committee  on  Trusts,  submit  the  following 
report:  The  National  Grange  expresses  its  approval  of  the  ad- 
dress of  our  Worthy  Master  Aaron  Jones,  regarding  trusts,  and 
demands  the  enactment  by  Congress  of  such  laws  as  will  protect 
the  people  against  all  combinations  of  men  and  capital  inimical  to 
public  policy.  We  are  not  opposed  to  association  of  interests 
which  merely  lessen  the  cost  of  production,  but  we  are  decidedly 
opposed  to  the  misuse  of  the  power  which  large  combinations  of 
capital  give  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  competition,  controlling 
production  and  arbitrarily  dictating  prices  of  commodities.  Asso- 
ciation, as  opposed  to  isolation,  is  one  thing;  combination,  as  op- 
posed to  competition,  is  another. 

"We  are  opposed  to  all  corporations  or  'trusts'  which  control 
the  source  of  supply,  and,  like  the  Standard  Oil  Company,  reach 
out  their  arms  and  embrace  all  competition.  Special  favors  are 
granted  them  by  railroads,  thus  enabling  them  to  undersell  and 
force  to  the  wall  smaller  dealers  who  might  otherwise  compete 
with  them. 

"We  encourage  the  investment  of  capital  in  every  branch  of 
legitimate  industry  and  demand  fair  play. 

"The  construction  of  the  Erie  Canal  benefited  the  farmer. 
Competition  has  reduced  the  price  of  transportation  in  New 
York  80  per  cent  during  the  past  25  years.  Expansion  of  our 
territory  and  commerce  tends  to  increase  the  number  of  capital- 
ized associations.  The  greed  and  selfishness  which  too  often 
actuate  men  have  become  an  element  of  danger  and  must  be  con- 
trolled. 

"It  must  be  made  impossible  for  so-called  trusts  to  accumulate 
millions  by  selling  watered  stock  without  adding  to  the  wealth  of 
the  country.     Therefore,  we  recommend : 

"First.    Official  inspection  of  all  corporations,  as  in  the  case  of 


208  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

national  banks.  No  corporation  should  be  tolerated  whose  books 
cannot  bear  such  inspection. 

"Second.  Prohibition  of  all  rebates  or  discrimination  by  pub- 
lic carriers. 

"Third.     Taxation  of  all  capital  stock. 

"Fourth.    All  capital  stock  should  be  paid  up  in  full. 

"Fifth.  Severe  penalties  for  violation  of  law.  (1)  By  for- 
feiture of  charter,  fine  and  imprisonment.  (2)  By  impeachment, 
fine  and  imprisonment  of  all  public  officials  whose  duty  it  may  be 
to  enforce  the  law  and  who  fail  to  perform  that  duty." 

Some  general  remarks  on  the  subject  of  trusts  fol- 
lowed, but  the  above  includes  the  "findings"  of  the 
committee.  The  statement  is  somewhat  illogical,  and 
in  the  light  of  subsequent  events  that  same  committee 
would  doubtless  modify  its  views  somewhat. 

It  was  manifest  the  Grange  was  reaching  out  into  the 
future  in  an  effort  to  throttle  a  gigantic  menace  to  the 
old  idea  of  competition  being  a  cure  for  all  commercial 
and  trade  evils. 

An  amendment  to  the  Constitution  was  adopted  in- 
creasing the  term  of  a  member  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee from  two  to  three  years  and  providing  for  the 
election  of  one  member  each  year.  E.  B.  Norris,  New 
York,  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee. 


CHAPTER    XIX 

Aaron  Jones'  Administration — Second  Term,  Two 
Years,   igoo-igoi — Thirty-Fourth  and  Thirty- 
Fifth  Sessions  of  the  National  Grange 

The  year  1900  was  a  presidential  year,  which  did 
much  to  distract  the  minds  of  farmers  as  well  as  of 
other  people  from  the  ordinary  concerns  of  life.  The 
campaign  which  terminated  in  the  re-election  of  Presi- 
dent McKinley  had  closed  only  a  few  days  before  the 
assembling  of  the  National  Grange  in  the  thirty-fourth 
annual  session  in  the  city  of  Washington,  D.  C,  No- 
vember 14  to  22,  1900. 

All  the  officers  elected  at  the  preceding  session  were 
in  their  places  when  the  Grange  was  called  to  order  by 
the  Worthy  Master. 

Master — Aaron  Jones,  Indiana. 
Overseer — Obadiah  Gardner,  Maine. 
Lecturer — N.  J.  Bachelder,  New  Hampshire. 
Steward — J.  A.  Newcomb,  Colorado. 
Assistant  Steward — W.  C.  Jewett,  Massachusetts. 
Chaplain — S.  O.  Bo  wen,  Connecticut. 
Treasurer — Mrs.  Eva  S.  McDowell,  Ohio. 
Secretary — John  Trimble,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Gatekeeper — H.  E.  Huxley,  Wisconsin. 
Ceres — Mrs.  Cordelia  Atkeson,  West  Virginia. 
Pomona — Mrs.  M.  M.  Wilson,  Illinois. 
Flora — Mrs.  Ida  V.  High,  Washington. 
Lady  Assistant  Steward — Mrs.  A.  M.  Horton,  Michigan. 
Members  of  the  Executive  Committee — J.  J.  Woodman,  Michi- 
gan; E.  B.  Norris,  New  York;  S.  H.  Messick,  Delaware. 

Twenty-four  states  were  represented  as  follows : 
California,  G.  W.  and  Mrs.  Worthen;  Colorado,  J.  A. 
and  Mrs.  Newcomb ;  Connecticut,  B.  C.  Patterson ; 
Delaware,  A.  and  Mrs.  Naudain ;  Illinois,  Oliver  and 
Mrs.  Wilson;  Indiana,  Aaron  and  Mrs.  Jones;  Kansas, 

209 


210  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

Henry  and  Mrs.  Rhoades;  Maine,  Obadiah  and  Mrs 
Gardner;  Massachusetts,  W.  C.  and  Mrs.  Jewett; 
Michigan,  G.  B.  and  Mrs.  Horton;  Minnesota,  Sarah 
G.  and  Mr.  Baird ;  Missouri,  C.  O.  and  Mrs.  Raine ;  New 
Hampshire,  N.  J.  Bachelder;  New  Jersey,  E.  and  Mrs. 
Braddock;  New  York,  E.  B.  and  Mrs.  Norris;  Ohio, 
S.  H.  and  Mrs.  Ellis;  Oregon,  B.  G.  and  Mrs.  Leedy; 
Pennsylvania,  W.  F.  and  Mrs.  Hill ;  Rhode  Island,  J. 
A.  and  Mrs.  Tillinghast;  South  Carolina,  W.  K.  and 
Mrs.  Thompson ;  Vermont,  C.  J.  and  Mrs.  Bell ;  Wash- 
ington, A.  and  Mrs.  High;  West  Virginia,  T.  C.  and 
Mrs.  Atkeson ;  Wisconsin,  H.  E.  and  Mrs.  Huxley. 

This  was  the  smallest  number  of  states  ever  repre- 
sented at  a  session  of  the  National  Grange  since  1873, 
the  states  of  Iowa  and  Maryland  having  dropped  out 
during  the  last  year. 

Williams  Saunders,  one  of  the  "founders"  and  first 
Master  of  the  National  Grange,  had  died  during  the 
year.  Oliver  Hudson  Kelley  and  John  Trimble,  the 
only  living  "founders  of  the  Order,"  were  present. 

The  address  of  welcome  was  delivered  by  Mr.  Kelley, 
which  was  responded  to  on  behalf  of  the  National 
Grange  by  Past  Master  J.  J.  Woodman.  The  Worthy 
Master's  address  was  rich  in  suggestions  for  building 
up  the  Order,  and  many  matters  of  vital  importance  to 
the  welfare  of  agriculture  were  discussed  in  an  able 
manner,  followed  by  the  declaration :  "The  time  has 
come  when  farmers  must  do  as  other  business  inter- 
ests do — continue  to  press  their  claims  from  year  to 
year,  until  the  legislation  is  secured,  and  at  all  times 
hold  their  representatives  in  state  legislatures  and  in 
Congress,  officially  and  personally,  responsible  for 
their  action  on  measures  affecting  agricultural  inter- 
ests. Farmers  should  learn  the  lesson  that  they  should 
stand  by  and  support  those  friendly  to  them,  as  other 
business  interests  do.  Business  men,  manufacturers 
and  others  act  upon  this  rule." 


AARON  JONES'  SECOND  TERM — I9OO-I90I  211 

The  Worthy  Treasurer  reported  the  total  receipts, 
$31,456.30;  total  expenditures,  $21,786.14;  leaving  total 
balance  in  Trust  Company  of  $9,670.16. 

The  Executive  Committee  reported  "total  funds" 
$57,082.06.    Increase  of  funds  during  the  year  $1,249.73. 

The  Worthy  Secretary  reported  the  organization  of 
182  new  Granges  and  the  reorganization  of  70  dor- 
mant Granges  during  the  year. 

On  invitation  of  President  McKinley  the  National 
Grange  as  a  body  was  received  by  the  President  at  the 
White  House.  They  also  visited  the  Agricultural  De- 
partment on  invitation  of  the  Secretary  and  were  re- 
ceived one  evening  at  the  home  of  Assistant  Secretary 
of  Agriculture  J.  H.  Brigham. 

Secretary  Wilson  attended  the  Grange  one  day,  and 
the  journal  says :  "Mr.  Wilson  was  received  by  the 
Grange  in  open  session,  and  introduced  by  the  Worthy 
Master;  whereupon  he  delivered  a  most  interesting 
and  instructive  address  on  "What  the  Department  of 
Agriculture  Is  Doing  to  Benefit  the  Farmers  of  the 
Nation."  Evidently  the  Secretary  did  not  consider  the 
Grange  "the  most  insidious  and  destructive  foe  to  the 
farmer." 

The  National  Grange  showed  its  appreciation  by  re- 
solving, "That  this  National  Grange  of  the  Patrons  of 
Husbandry  now  assembled  thank  President  McKinley 
for  the  appointment  of  a  Secretary  and  Assistant  Sec- 
retary of  Agriculture  who  so  nearly  answer  our  idea  of 
what  the  Secretary  and  Assistant  Secretary  should  be, 
when  we  asked  that  the  Department  of  Agriculture 
should  be  created." 

C.  J.  Bell  of  Vermont  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Executive  Committee  for  three  years. 

Probably  no  session  of  the  National  Grange  has  been 
more  harmonious  in  all  its  work  and  relations  than 
this  thirty-fourth  session.  All  the  factionalism  of  a 
few  years  before  seemed  to  have  passed  away  and  en- 
tire good-fellowship  to  be  restored.    The  Grange  was 


212  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

adjusting  itself  to  changing  conditions  and  assuming 
new  responsibilities. 

After  a  year  of  prosperity  the  thirty-fifth  annual 
session  of  the  National  Grange  met  in  the  city  of 
Lewiston,  Me.,  November  13  to  21,  1901.  All  the 
officers  were  present.  Twenty-five  states  were  repre- 
sented by  the  same  delegates  as  at  last  session,  except 
the  following  eight  states,  where  changes  had  been 
made : 

California,  C.  W.  and  Mrs.  Emery;  Delaware,  S.  H. 
and  Mrs.  Derby;  Kansas,  E.  W.  Westgate;  Kentucky, 
F.  P.  and  Mrs.  Wolcott;  New  Jersey,  G.  W.  F.  and 
Mrs.  Gaunt;  Ohio,  F.  A.  and  Mrs.  Derthick;  Rhode 
Island,  A.  A.  Smith;  Washington,  J.  O.  and  Mrs. 
Wing. 

The  Worthy  Master's  "address"  was  full  of  hope 
and  inspiration.    Of  the  agricultural  colleges  he  said : 

"Agriculture  was  to  become  profitable  and  farmers  prosperous 
and  happy  as  a  result  of  teaching  in  these  colleges  those  branches 
of  learning  related  to  that  important  industry.  Have  these  antici- 
pations been  fully  realized?  If  not,  why  not?  Have  farmers 
done  their  full  duty  toward  these  colleges?  Have  the  agricul- 
tural colleges  done  all  they  could  and  should  have  done  to  make 
them  of  the  greatest  value  to  the  agricultural  interests  of  the 
country?  Have  the  boards  of  trustees  of  agricultural  colleges 
been  in  full  sympathy  with  the  spirit  and  purpose  of  the  act 
donating  the  public  lands  for  these  schools?  Have  the  presidents 
and  professors  been  in  all  cases  in  full  sympathy  with  practical 
agriculture  and  in  close  touch  with  farmers? 

"Many  farmers  feel  that  in  these  schools  in  many  cases  an 
influence  has  been  exerted  on  the  minds  of  their  children  away 
from  the  farm  rather  than  toward  it.  On  this  account  many 
farmers  who  desire  their  children  to  follow  farming  do  not  send 
them  to  the  so-called  agricultural  colleges.  Whether  this  be  true 
or  not  the  feeling  exists,  the  damage  is  done,  and  our  agricul- 
tural colleges  and  their  influence  are  injured,  and  the  farmers 
have  lost  the  golden  opportunity  of  securing  to  agriculture  the 
advantages  contemplated  by  the  wise  statesmen  who  enacted  the 
law  in  1862.  Most  of  the  legislatures  in  the  several  states  have 
been  liberal  in  their  appropriations  to  aid  these  schools.  I  desire 
to  call  attention  to  these  schools  and  ask  the  Order  in  the  several 


AARON  JONES'  SECOND  TERM — I90O-I9OI  213 

states  to  investigate  their  agricultural  college  and  its  management, 
and  see  whether  it  is  conducted  along  the  lines  contemplated  by 
the  act  creating  it,  and  to  the  best  interest  of  agriculture  in  their 
respective  states.  If  not,  then  insist  and  take  such  action  as  will 
cause  such  changes  to  be  made  as  will  make  their  agricultural 
school  in  practice  as  well  as  in  name  an  agricultural  college. 
Urge  your  legislature  to  make  such  appropriations  as  will  provide 
for  all  the  needs  of  the  school  in  lands,  buildings  and  equipment, 
as  well  as  make  it  a  first-class  agricultural  college.  Insist  that 
the  boards  of  trustees  shall  be  practical  men  who  have  faith  in 
agriculture,  who  will  appoint  a  president  and  professors  who  are 
in  full  sympathy  with  agriculture,  men  who  believe  that  farming 
is  as  honorable  as  any  other  business  or  profession,  and  by  proper 
management  can  be  made  profitable,  who  will  use  all  their  in- 
fluence in  securing  the  teaching  of  scientific  agriculture  in  our 
public  schools,  and  assist  in  all  honorable  methods  in  advancing 
the  agricultural  interests.  Anyone  not  willing  to  do  that,  in  our 
opinion,  should  not  occupy  the  position  of  trustee,  president,  or 
teacher  in  our  agricultural  colleges." 

The  expressions  of  the  Worthy  Master  were  almost 
the  universal  opinion  of  the  farmers  of  the  country  at 
that  time,  but,  largely  through  the  influence  of  the 
Grange  a  better  understanding  between  the  farmers 
and  the  colleges  has  later  developed. 

That  infallible  index  of  Grange  prosperity,  the  re- 
port of  the  Worthy  Treasurer,  showed  the  total  re- 
ceipts, $31,606.95;  total  expenditures,  $17,572.38; 
leaving  a  balance  in  the  Trust  Company  of  $14,034.57. 

The  report  of  the  Executive  Committee  showed, 
"Total  money  and  investments,  $62,361.90,"  showing 
an  increase  of  funds  during  the  last  fiscal  year  of 
$5,358.89. 

Secretary  John  Trimble  reported  that  during  the 
year  193  new  Granges  were  organized  and  62  dormant 
Granges  reorganized.  These  reports  amply  justify 
the  declaration  of  the  Worthy  Master:  "I  am  pleased 
to  state  the  Order  is  prosperous.  More  new  Granges 
have  been  organized  this  year  than  in  any  other  year 
for  the  past  quarter  of  a  century.  Harmony  and  good 
will  prevail  throughout  our  vast  membership.     Our 


214  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

members  are  enthusiastic,  hopeful,  earnest,  and  deter- 
mined in  their  efforts  to  make  the  Grange  still  more 
helpful  and  better  in  all  its  work,  to  broaden  its  scope 
and  extend  its  membership  and  influence." 

In  concluding  their  report,  the  Executive  Committee 
said: 

"Our  agricultural  people,  by  well-directed  and  intelligent  co- 
operation, are  fast  removing  the  isolation  that  has  been  the 
greatest  barrier  against  organization  among  the  farming  class, 
and  the  Grange  stands  today  pre-eminently  in  the  lead  of  all 
other  agricultural  associations,  and  shows  its  power  to  the  great- 
est advantage  in  its  genial  sociability  and  educational  advantages 
where  it  wields  the  most  influence. 

"If  the  farmer  of  today  hopes  to  keep  pace  with  the  progress 
of  the  twentieth  century,  he  must  become  a  factor  in  elevating 
his  occupation.  Life  in  this  world  is  but  a  school  of  observation 
and  experience.  The  Grange  is  exerting  an  influence  in  public 
affairs,  and  is  valuable  to  every  member,  morally,  socially,  and 
financially. 

"From  all  parts  of  the  country  comes  the  cheering  report  from 
our  Grange  workers  that  the  great  army  of  husbandmen  are  fall- 
ing into  line.  Organization  and  co-operation  are  watchwords  of 
the  hour,  and  they  insist  on  an  equal  distribution  of  the  burdens 
and  an  equitable  share  of  the  many  blessings  accruing  from  an 
advancing  civilization.  The  magnitude  of  the  agricultural  indus- 
try requires  a  thoughtful  provision  to  secure  an  adequate  con- 
sideration for  its  products  in  the  markets  of  the  world." 

The  Grange  took  a  decided  stand  upon  the  subject 
of  free  passes : 

"We  recommend  that  in  all  states  that  have  not  already  taken 
action  they  insist  on  the  enactment  of  laws  making  it  a  penal 
offense  to  offer,  or  for  a  public  officer  to  accept,  a  pass  on  any 
railroad  or  transportation  company,  believing  that  the  custom 
not  only  inflicts  a  higher  rate  of  transportation  on  others,  but  is 
frequently  used  by  transportation  companies  in  the  hope  of  in- 
fluencing court  decisions  and  legislation. 

"And  Resolved,  That  this  body  favor  and  demand  the  enact- 
ment of  just  and  equitable  tax  laws  by  our  state  and  national 
legislators  which  shall  relieve  agriculture  from  an  unfair  pro- 
portion of  the  necessary  burdens  of  government." 

The  following  was  announced  as  the  legislative 
program  for  the  year : 


Aaron  jones'  second  term — 1900-1901         215 

1.  Free  delivery  of  mails  in  the  rural  districts,  and  that  the 
service  be  placed  on  the  same  permanent  footing  as  the  delivery 
of  mail  in  the  cities,  and  the  appropriations  be  commensurate 
with  the  demands  and  the  benefits  of  the  service. 

2.  Provide  for  postal  savings  banks. 

3.  Submit  an  amendment  to  the  Constitution  providing  for  the 
election  of  United  States  Senators  by  direct  vote  of  the  people. 

4.  Submit  an  amendment  to  the  Constitution  granting  the 
power  to  Congress  to  regulate  and  control  all  corporations  and 
combinations,  preventing  monopoly  and  the  use  of  their  corporate 
power  to  restrain  trade  or  arbitrarily  establish  prices. 

5.  Enlarge  the  powers  and  duties  of  the  Interstate  Commerce 
Commission. 

6.  Regulate  the  use  of  shoddy. 

7.  Enact  pure  food  laws. 

8.  Provide  for  the  extension  of  the  markets  for  farm  products 
equally  with  manufactured  articles. 

9.  The  enactment  of  the  anti-trust  law,  clearly  defining  what 
acts  on  the  part  of  any  corporation  would  be  detrimental  to  pub- 
lic welfare. 

10.  Speedy  construction  of  the  Nicaragua  Canal  by  the  United 
States. 

11.  The  speedy  construction  of  a  ship  canal  connecting  the 
Mississippi  river  with  the  Great  Lakes  and  the  Great  Lakes  with 
the  Atlantic  Ocean. 

12.  Revising  the  fees  and  salaries  of  all  federal  officers,  and 
placing  them  on  a  basis  of  similar  service  in  private  business. 

In  a  broad  sense  the  Grange  was  an  agricul- 
tural "clearing  house."  It  was  made  up  of  people 
engaged  in  all  branches  of  farming,  members  of  all 
political  parties,  members  of  all  the  State  Agricultural 
Associations,  of  the  State  Boards  of  Agriculture,  of  the 
Experiment  Station  staff,  and  the  College  of  Agricul- 
ture faculty,  of  both  sexes.  It  was  in  the  Grange 
that  all  these  different  interests  received  fair  and 
impartial  consideration,  and  that  such  differences  as 
existed  were  adjusted.  It  was  through  Grange 
legislative  committees  that  all  the  varied  interests 
were  presented  to  Congress  or  the  Legislature.  The 
Grange  was  surrounded  by  checks  and  balances  that  did 
not  exist  elsewhere  in  the  organized  agricultural  insti- 


2l6  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

tutions.  It  heartily  indorsed  the  motto,  "In  essentials, 
unity ;  in  non-essentials,  liberty ;  in  all  things,  charity." 

The  Order  declared  that  "we  shall  constantly  strive 
to  secure  harmony,  good  will,  vital  brotherhood  among 
ourselves,  and  we  hail  the  general  desire  for  fraternal 
harmony,  equitable  compromises,  and  earnest  co- 
operation, as  an  omen  of  our  future  success."  Every 
thought  and  policy  of  the  Grange  was  for  peace, 
harmony,  good  will  and  genuine  co-operation  among 
agricultural  people.  All  controversies  were  settled 
within  the  Order  and  a  united  front  presented  at 
all  times. 

The  farmers  of  this  country  were  naturally  and  nor- 
mally law-abiding,  loyal  and  patriotic.  In  times  of 
panic  it  was  the  farmers  who  saved  the  financial  institu- 
tions of  the  country,  and  when  the  nation  was  at  war 
the  great  burden  fell  upon  the  farmers,  and  it  was  upon 
the  conservative  farmers  that  the  preservation  of  the 
governmental  institutions  mainly  depended. 

When  the  political  campaign,  with  all  its  uncer- 
tainty and  turmoil,  was  over  the  farmers  cheerfully  ac- 
cepted the  result,  and  yielded  a  loyal  support  to  the  new 
state  and  national  administrations  without  regard  to 
whether  the  men  they  voted  for  were  elected  or  not. 
All  they  asked  at  the  hands  of  the  government  was  a 
square  deal. 

There  has  always  been  a  good  deal  of  maudlin  senti- 
mentality wasted  on  the  farmers  to  little  purpose. 
The  only  true  friends  of  the  farmers  must  be  the  farm- 
ers themselves.  And  the  Grange  seeks  to  equip  them 
for  such  leadership  as  will  enable  them  to  demand  and 
secure  that  equitable  deal  to  which  the  basic  industry 
of  agriculture  is  entitled.  The  improvement  of  the 
business  of  farming  must  come  out  of  its  own  leader- 
ship. In  all  the  efforts  made  for  the  betterment  of 
agricultural  conditions  the  farmer  has  been  considered 
simply  as  a  producer.  In  other  occupations  it  is  dif- 
ferent.    The  manufacturer  carefully  counts  the  cost 


AARON  JONES'  SECOND  TERM — 19OO-I9OI  21J 

of  production  and  proceeds  to  control  the  price  by 
reducing  the  quantity  and  also  through  the  means  of 
tariffs  and  other  special  legislation.  The  professional 
men  fix  a  schedule  of  remunerative  prices.  The  mer- 
chant marks  up  his  wares  to  a  profitable  price.  The 
money  lender  demands  his  usury,  and  the  transporta- 
tion companies  charge  what  the  traffic  will  bear.  The 
farmer  is  told  to  work  harder  and  raise  bigger  crops 
so  that  others  may  live  more  economically,  without  re- 
gard to  whether  he  receives  a  profit  on  what  he  pro- 
duces or  not. 

These  conditions  have  come  about  because  the 
farmers  have  largely  let  other  people  do  their  think- 
ing, and  the  laws  of  the  state  and  nation  are  al- 
most wholly  made  by  people  opposed  to  agriculture  or 
controlled  by  special  and  selfish  interests. 

Give  the  farmers  a  fair  and  larger  share  of  what  they 
produce,  with  an  equitable  profit  upon  their  toil,  and 
all  else  will  be  given  unto  them.  Anything  short  of 
this  leaves  increasing  need  of  the  Grange  and  its  tire- 
less efforts  to  secure  for  agriculture  and  the  farmers 
of  the  country  some  of  the  comforts  and  luxuries  of 
life  which  they  so  richly  deserve.  More  justice  and 
less  sentiment  would  be  more  to  the  liking  of  most 
farmers. 


CHAPTER    XX 

Aaron  Jones's  Administration — Third  Term,  Two 
Years,  1902-1903 — Thirty-Sixth  and  Thirty- 
Seventh  Sessions  of  the  National  Grange 

The  thirty-sixth  session  of  the  National  Grange  met 
in  the  State  Capitol  at  Lansing,  Mich.,  November  12 
to  21,  1902.    All  the  officers  were  present: 

Master — Aaron  Jones,  Indiana. 
Overseer — Obadiah  Gardner,  Maine. 
Lecturer — N.  J.  Bachelder,  New  Hampshire. 
Steward — W.  C.  Jewett,  Massachusetts. 
Assistant  Steward — C.  O.  Raine,  Missouri. 
Chaplain — W.  K.  Thompson,  South  Carolina. 
Treasurer — Mrs.  Eva  S.  McDowell,  Ohio. 
Secretary — John  Trimble,  District  of  Columbia. 
Gatekeeper — George  W.  Baird,  Minnesota. 
Ceres — Mrs.  Martha  M.  Wilson,  Illinois. 
Pomona — Mrs.  Cordelia  Atkeson,  West  Virginia. 
Flora — Mrs.  S.  B.  Wolcott,  Kentucky. 

Lady  Assistant  Steward — Mrs.  Marie  A.  Hill,  Pennsylvania. 
Executive  Committee — E.  B.  Norris,  New  York;  J.  J.  Woodman, 
Michigan;  C.  J.  Bell,  Vermont. 

Twenty-seven  states  were  represented  by  delegates 
as  follows:  California,  C.  W.  and  Mrs.  Emery;  Col- 
orado, J.  A.  and  Mrs.  Newcomb ;  Connecticut,  B.  C. 
Patterson;  Delaware,  S.  H.  and  Mrs.  Derby;  Illinois, 
Oliver  and  Mrs.  Wilson ;  Indiana,  Aaron  and  Mrs. 
Jones;  Iowa,  A.  B.  and  Mrs.  Judson ;  Kansas,  E.  W. 
Westgate;  Kentucky,  F.  P.  and  Mrs.  Wolcott;  Maine, 
O.  and  Mrs.  Gardner;  Massachusetts,  G.  S.  and  Mrs. 
Ladd;  Maryland,  J.  B.  and  Mrs.  Ager;  Michigan,  G. 
B.  and  Mrs.  Horton ;  Minnesota,  Sarah  G.  and  Mr. 
Baird;  Missouri,  C.  O.  and  Mrs.  Raine;  New  Hamp- 
shire, N.  J.  and  Mrs.  Bachelder;  New  Jersey,  G.  W.  F. 
and  Mrs.  Gaunt;  New  York,  E.  B.  and  Mrs.  Norris; 
Ohio,  F.  A.  and  Mrs.  Derthick;  Oregon,  B.  G.  and  Mrs. 

218 


AARON  JONES'  THIRD  TERM — I902-I903  219 

Leedy;  Pennsylvania,  W.  F.  and  Mrs.  Hill;  Rhode 
Island,  A.  A.  Smith;  South  Carolina,  W.  K.  and  Mrs. 
Thompson;  Vermont,  C.  J.  and  Mrs.  Bell;  Washing- 
ton, J.  O.  and  Mrs.  Wing;  West  Virginia,  T.  C.  and 
Mrs.  Atkeson ;  Wisconsin,  A.  C.  and  Mrs.  Powers. 

The  Worthy  Master  called  upon  J.  H.  Brigham, 
Past  Master  of  the  National  Grange,  and  Assis- 
tant Secretary  of  the  United  States  Department 
of  Agriculture  for  remarks.  Mr.  Brigham  stated 
that  he  had  been  authorized  by  the  Secretary  of  Agri- 
culture to  attend  the  thirty-sixth  session  of  the  Na- 
tional Grange  as  a  representative  of  the  department. 

The  Worthy  Master's  address  was  up  to  the  standard 
of  the  best ;  only  a  few  paragraphs,  culled  somewhat  at 
random,  can  be  included  here : 

"Our  purpose  is  to  consider  measures  that  will  advance  the 
interests  of  our  Order,  promote  a  more  profitable  agriculture, 
and  advance  the  cause  of  good  government;  to  urge  upon  state 
and  national  governments  the  enactment  and  enforcement  of  just 
laws  that  will  secure  to  agriculture,  to  labor  and  capital,  a  fair 
and  just  distribution  of  the  earnings  of  labor  and  capital  in  the 
varied  industrial  pursuits  of  our  matchless  country. 

"The  Order  has  enjoyed  a  wonderful  degree  of  prosperity 
during  the  past  year.  This  is  true  from  whatever  view  you 
take  of  it.  More  new  Granges  organized,  more  Granges  reor- 
ganized, more  members  initiated  in  existing  Granges,  better  ritual 
and  literary  work  done,  meetings  held  oftener  and  better  at- 
tended, and  greater  interest  taken  and  more  inquiry  by  those 
outside  our  gates.  The  financial  condition  solvent  and  satis- 
factory; more  Grange  halls  have  been  built  and  tastefully  fur- 
nished and  equipped  for  the  uses  and  purposes  of  the  Order.  In 
securing  legislation,  state  and  national,  the  Order  has  been 
measurably  successful;  the  work  of  the  Order  more  generally 
commended  by  all  the  people  of  our  country. 

"The  most  important  question  before  the  American  people  is 
that  of  trusts.  These  combinations  are  growing  stronger  and 
more  and  more  exacting  and  oppressive  every  year.  The  farms, 
homes,  crops,  stock  and  other  property  of  the  five  million  eight 
hundred  thousand  farmers,  and  also  the  awards  for  the  labor 
of  the  thirty  million  men,  women  and  children  who  live  upon  and 
cultivate  these  farms,  are  at  the  mercy  of  those  vast  combinations. 
They  direct  and  fix  the  price  of  what  the  people  buy  or  sell. 


220  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

"The  Grange  was  among  the  first  great  organizations  to  defend 
the  rights  of  the  people  against  the  crimes  of  organized  greed. 
Day  by  day,  and  year  by  year,  the  Grange  has  pointed  out  the 
disastrous  results  that  would  follow  the  allowing  of  combinations 
of  capital  and  conspiracies  intended  to  restrict  trade,  create 
monopoly,  limit  production,  prevent  competition,  or  to  control 
prices.  The  earnest  and  determined  efforts  of  the  Patrons  of 
Husbandry  have  aroused  the  people  to  the  dangers  incident  to 
trust  methods. 

"The  Patrons  of  Husbandry's  position  is  right,  and  has  always 
been  right.  The  people  of  the  country  are  with  us.  Patrons,  the 
time  has  come  when  promises  will  not  suffice !  Action,  decisive 
action,  is  demanded.  Any  public  official  whose  duty  it  is  to  act, 
and  he  does  not  perform  his  entire  duty  in  the  enactment  and 
enforcement  of  laws  to  suppress  the  evils  of  trusts,  whatever 
political  faith  he  may  profess,  with  whatever  political  party  he 
may  affiliate,  should  be  defeated  for  renomination  and  election. 
All  politicians  and  political  parties  should  understand  that  the 
rights  of  the  people  must  be  respected,  and  that  special  privileges 
will  not  be  tolerated,  and  any  law  or  laws  now  in  force  which 
enable  manufacturers  to  sell,  and  they  do  sell,  in  foreign  coun- 
tries, any  manufactured  article  at  a  less  price  than  they  sell  to 
American  citizens,  thus  using  the  laws  of  our  country  to  dis- 
criminate against  our  citizens,  said  law  or  laws  should  at  once 
be  revised,  amended  or  repealed,  and  all  such  practices  made 
impossible. 

"The  laws  of  our  country  must  express  the  will  and  maintain 
the  rights  of  the  majority  of  the  people,  and  said  laws  must  be 
enforced  and  obeyed,  by  all  individuals  and  corporations." 

Of  rural  mail  delivery,  he  said : 

"We  are  gratified  to  note  that  this  branch  of  the  public  service 
is  receiving  the  attention  that  its  importance  and  merit  demands, 
and  that  the  Postmaster-General  will  recommend  that  the  appro- 
priation for  this  service  be  increased  to  $12,650,000  to  continue 
and  further  extend  rural  delivery  of  mail.  Our  Order  should  not 
relax  its  efforts  in  this  matter  until  free  mail  delivery  comes  to 
every  farm  home  in  the  United  States. 

"The  passage  of  the  bill  so  long  and  so  earnestly  demanded 
by  our  Order,  to  have  our  government  construct,  manage,  control 
and  own  a  ship  canal  connecting  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Oceans 
at  Nicaragua  or  Panama,  has  passed  and  is  now  a  law,  and  this 
great  canal  will  shortly  be  constructed  to  the  great  advantage  of 
all  the  people  of  our  country." 


AARON  JONES    THIRD  TERM — I902-I903  221 

The  Worthy  Treasurer  reported  total  receipts,  $39,- 
886.42;  total  expenditures,  $32,914.76;  leaving  a  bal- 
ance of  $6,971.66. 

The  Executive  Committee  said  in  their  report :  "The 
revenues  of  the  National  Grange  are  derived  from  the 
following  sources :  State  Grange  dues,  dispensation 
fees,  sale  of  supplies  to  Subordinate  Granges,  fees  of 
higher  degrees,  and  interest  on  investments  and  de- 
posits. At  the  close  of  the  fiscal  year  ending  Sep- 
tember 30,  1902,  the  account  stood  as  follows  :  Loaned 
on  twenty-seven  farm  mortgages,  $44,710;  two  farm 
contracts,  $6,800;  one  farm  valued  at  $2,526.90;  de- 
posited in  savings  bank,  $4,000;  balance  in  trust  fund, 
$6,891.66;  total  of  $64,928.56.  At  the  close  of  the  pre- 
ceding fiscal  year,  1901,  the  investments  and  deposits 
amounted  to  $62,440.95 ;  showing  an  increase  of  funds 
during  the  fiscal  year  of  $2,487.61. 

Commenting  upon  the  increasing  accumulation  of 
funds,  the  committee  said  : 

"The  Executive  Committee  congratulates  the  National  Grange 
upon  its  sound  and  safe  financial  system,  and  the  present  highly 
prosperous  condition  of  its  finances. 

"The  question  is  often  asked,  What  is  the  necessity  of  carrying 
so  large  a  surplus  of  funds  by  the  National  Grange? 

"The  answer  is,  that  no  order  or  organization  can  live  and 
prosper  without  a  sound  financial  backing,  and  the  standing  of 
an  organization  is  largely  measured  by  its  ability  to  promptly 
meet  all  of  its  obligations.  It  is  not  the  policy  of  the  National 
Grange  to  accumulate  and  hold  a  large,  idle  surplus,  but  to 
create  a  permanent  capital  large  enough  to  meet  any  emergency 
w"hich  may  arise,  and  give  it  character,  standing,  reliability  and 
perpetuity,  and  use  the  interest  on  the  same,  together  with  other 
incomes  which  remain  over  and  above  current  expenses,  in  the 
main,  for  extending  the  Order.  It  shows  a  gradual  increase  of 
receipts  above  expenditures  from  year  to  year,  as  has  been  the 
case  since  1S82,  gives  more  confidence  and  permanency  to  the 
Order  than  a  constant  decrease  which  took  place  during  the  pre- 
ceding eight  years.  Twenty  years  of  continuous  growth  and 
prosperity  overcoming  obstacles  which  appeared  almost  insur- 
mountable would  seem  to  be  sufficient  to  establish  the  fact  that 
the  Order  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry  has  become  one  of  the  per- 


222  PATRONS   OF   HUSBANDRY 

manent  institutions  of  the  country,  and  that  it  will  go  on  in  its 
glorious  work  of  education  and  elevating  American  farmers  and 
bringing  all  within  its  influence  nearer  to  the  good,  the  beautiful, 
the  true." 

The  Worthy  Secretary  reported  256  new  Granges 
organized  and  86  dormant  Granges  reorganized.  This 
was  the  first  time  in  many  years  when  the  number  of 
new  Granges  organized  in  one  year  had  been  above  200. 

The  National  Grange  was  taken  to  Grand  Rapids  to 
visit  the  great  furniture  factories  of  that  city.  They 
were  banqueted  at  the  Michigan  Agricultural  College, 
received  by  the  Governor,  by  the  Board  of  Trade  and 
the  city  authorities ;  they  were  invited  to  attend  the 
Industrial  School  and  several  manufacturing  plants. 
For  Sunday  they  were  invited  to  attend  all  the 
churches,  and  the  following  unique  invitation  was  re- 
ceived from  the  pastor  of  the  Central  M.  E.  Church: 
"If  it  would  be  agreeable  I  would  like  to  have  a  general 
service  Sunday  night,  the  meeting  to  be  addressed  by 
one  or  more  prominent  members  of  the  Grange.  I 
place  the  church  at  your  disposal  for  your  memorial 
or  other  services."    This  invitation  was  accepted. 

The  Legislative  Committee  reported  that  they  had 
urged  upon  Congress: 

1.  Further  extension  of  rural  mail  delivery. 

2.  Constitutional  amendment  granting  power  to  Congress  to 
control  corporations  and  trusts. 

3.  Establishment  of  postal  savings  banks. 

4.  Pure  food  law. 

5.  Completion  of  the  Nicaragua  Canal  by  the  United  States. 

6.  Additional  power  to  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission. 

7.  Election  of  United  States  Senators  by  the  people. 

8.  Opposition  to  ship-subsidy. 

9.  Prohibit  the  fraud  of  colored  oleomargarine. 

On  one  of  its  visits  to  Washington  the  Legislative 
Committee  says: 

"The  Agricultural  Department  was  visited  and  Secretary  Wil- 
son and  Assistant  Secretary  Brigham  greeted  us  with  the  state- 
ment, 'Tell  us  what  the  Grange  wants  in  this  department  and  its 


AARON  JONES    THIRD  TERM I902-I903  223 

desires  will  be  granted.'  Secretary  Wilson  recalls  the  fact  that 
he  was  one  of  the  earliest  members  of  the  Order  in  the  great 
state  of  Iowa,  and  Assistant  Secretary  Brigham  retains  the  deep 
interest  developed  by  nine  years'  service  as  its  National  leader. 
We  were  consulted  upon  various  lines  of  work  now  carried  on 
by  this  great  department  of  the  national  government,  and  upon 
its  effect  in  various  sections  of  the  country,  which  it  is  not  nec- 
essary to  mention  in  detail.  The  cordial  relations  existing  be- 
tween the  Department  of  Agriculture  and  the  Grange  are  of 
mutual  advantage  in  the  great  work  of  advancing  the  interests  of 
American  agriculture." 

The  Grange  indorsed  governmental  improvement  of 
the  Ohio  river  from  Pittsburgh  to  Cairo.  Congress 
was  urged  to  increase  the  appropriation  for  agricultural 
experiment  stations.  The  teaching  of  agriculture  in 
state  normal  schools  was  indorsed.  The  giving  of 
free  passes  by  railroads  was  condemned.  A  literary 
test  for  immigrants  was  indorsed.  The  establishment 
of  a  "parcels  post"  was  demanded. 

When  the  time  came  for  electing  a  member  of  the 
Executive  Committee  to  succeed  J.  J.  Woodman,  the 
following  brief  letter  from  him  was  read :  "Having 
been  honored  by  the  National  Grange  with  official  re- 
sponsibilities for  a  number  of  years,  and  having  en- 
deavored to  discharge  every  duty  imposed  upon  me 
with  fidelity,  and  guard  every  interest  of  the  Order 
according  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  I  thank  the  Na- 
tional Grange  for  the  confidence  reposed  in  me,  and  am 
now  ready  to  retire  from  official  responsibilities." 

Frank  A.  Derthick  of  Ohio  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Committee. 

F.  P.  Wolcott  of  Kentucky  offered  the  following, 
which  was  unanimously  adopted  : 

"For  six  years  beginning  with  1875,  Brother  J.  J.  Woodman 
represented  the  state  of  Michigan  in  the  National  Grange.  His 
ability  as  a  parliamentarian  and  his  substantial  character  as  a  man 
earned  for  him  in  1877  the  honorable  and  responsible  position  of 
Overseer  of  this  body,  an  office  he  was  permitted  to  fill  for  only 
two  years.  At  the  session  of  1879,  having  proved  his  ability  in 
other  stations,  he  was  advanced  to  the  chair  of  the  Worthy  Mas- 


224  PATRONS  OF    HUSBANDRY 

ter,  which  he  occupied  with  honor  to  himself  and  the  Order  of 
Patrons  of  Husbandry  for  a  period  of  six  years. 

"Though  his  term  as  Master  of  Michigan  State  Grange  had 
expired  in  1881,  Brother  Woodman  could  not  be  spared  by  the 
National  Grange,  and  when  his  period  of  service  as  Master  of  the 
National  Grange  ended  in  1885  he  was  promptly  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Executive  Committee  and  made  Secretary  of  that 
body.  For  seventeen  years  he  has  continued  to  hold  that  im- 
portant position,  all  the  while  having  almost  entire  charge  of  the 
finances  of  the  Grange  and  handling  the  money  with  strict  fidelity 
and  rare  business  ability. 

"Now  our  honored  brother  has  voluntarily  declined  a  position 
that  had  come  to  be  regarded  as  his  as  long  as  he  should  be  will- 
ing to  accept  it.  His  record  is  without  a  parallel  in  our  history. 
For  twenty-nine  successive  sessions  he  has  been  an  active  and 
influential  member  of  this  body,  at  every  session  presenting  an 
important  address  or  report.  He  has  been  our  Hamilton  as  a 
financier,  our  Jefferson  as  a  parliamentarian,  and  our  Marshall 
as  an  expounder  of  our  fundamental  law." 

The  National  Grange  presented  Mr.  Woodman  with 
a  gold-headed  cane,  and  Secretary  Trimble  made  the 
presentation  speech.    Mr.  Trimble  said  : 

"Dear  and  esteemed  Brother  Woodman,  when  I  gave  it  a 
second  thought  I  saw  that  it  was  right  and  seemly  that  you  and 
I  should  meet  face  to  face  here  tonight  in  presence  of  the  Na- 
tional Grange,  the  true  spirit  of  our  fraternity.  Many,  many 
years  have  we  labored  together  in  the  interests  of  the  dear  old 
Grange,  which  no  one  loves  nor  can  love  more  sincerely  than 
you  have  loved  and  will  love  it. 

"My  associations  with  you,  my  Brother,  have  been  more  inti- 
mate and  continuous,  I  am  sure,  than  with  any  other  member 
of  the  Order — on  official  business,  in  which  they  hold  you  for 
your  high  sense  of  honor,  for  the  signally  successful  administra- 
tion of  the  finances  of  the  Order  and  for  your  never-failing  love 
and  devotion  to  it. 

"The  Grange  has  honored  you  in  the  past,  and  you  have  con- 
ferred equal  honor  on  the  Grange.  The  members  of  the  Order 
have  and  will  love  and  honor  you  in  the  future,  and  we  invoke 
God's  richest  blessing  on  you  and  yours,  and  we  wish  that  you 
may  live  a  long  and  happy  life. 

"I  found  you,  when  I  took  the  office  of  Secretary,  a  true  friend 
and  faithful  adviser— and  I  needed  such;  always  willing,  always 
patient  in  aiding  and  abetting  me.     If  I  have  succeeded,  even 


AARON  JONES    THIRD  TERM — I902-I903  225 

partially,  in  fulfilling  the  duties  of  my  office,  I  am  largely  in- 
debted to   Brother  Woodman." 

Mr.  Woodman  said  in  reply: 

"Brothers  and  sisters,  almost  from  the  beginning  I  have 
worked  over  this,  our  beloved  Order.  I  have  seen  it  grow  from 
nothing  until  2,400  Subordinate  Granges  had  been  organized, 
with  a  membership  of  hundreds  of  thousands.  I  have  seen  the 
Order  when  its  receipts  for  State  Grange  dues  amounted  to 
$40,000  to  $50,000,  and  I  have  known  it  when  the  receipts  from 
that  source  were  less  than  $500.  I  have  known  it  when  it  had 
$60,000  in  government  bonds,  and  I  have  known  it  when  it  had 
to  sell  its  bonds  year  after  year  to  pay  the  annual  expenses. 
That  we  had  to  do  until  1882,  when  the  change  for  the  better  had 
come  to  stay.  I  have  known  the  National  Grange  when  but 
fourteen  Subordinate  Granges  were  organized  during  the  year. 
But  the  Grange  has  always  some  money  in  its  treasury. 

"There  was  a  time  when  all  the  farmers'  organizations  in  the 
country  were  called  together  in  order  to  form  a  great  farmers' 
association.  The  proposition  was  made  to  us  that  we  change 
our  name  and  join  forces  with  these  other  organizations  to  form 
one  grand  farmers'  fraternity  that  should  cover  the  whole  coun- 
try; that  we  should  no  more  be  called  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry. 
It  was  found  that  the  Patrons  were  the  only  organization  that 
had  any  money  in  their  treasury,  and  that  the  other  organizations 
had  nothing  to  offer  us  in  exchange  for  our  glorious  principles 
and  $50,000  in  our  treasury.  We  said  to  them  that  all  the  seeds  of 
dissolution  had  never  been  planted  in  our  organic  law,  and  that 
we  had  no  desire  to  abandon  the  cause  we  loved  so  well.  Other 
societies  have  sprung  up,  flourished  and  gone  down,  while  today 
our  organization  is  the  only  farmers'  organization  that  has  a 
national  existence;  and  it  will  live  and  continue  to  grow  and 
spread  until  all  over  this  land  of  ours  the  beneficent  influences 
of  our  principles  shall  be  felt  for  the  uplifting  of  man.  There  is 
a  bright  future  for  us  if  we  are  true  to  our  Order  and  true  to 
our  God." 

This  proved  to  be  the  last  session  of  the  National 
Grange  that  either  Woodman  or  Trimble  ever  attended. 
Mr.  Woodman  lived  for  several  years,  but  Mr.  Trimble 
died  in  about  six  weeks  after  this  pleasant  event. 

The  thirty-seventh  session  of  the  National  Grange 
met  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  November  n  to  20,  1903. 


226  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

All  the  officers  were  present.  Twenty-six  states 
were  represented  by  the  same  delegates  as  at  the  last 
session,  with  the  following  exceptions:  California, 
Harry  C.  and  Mrs.  Raap;  Rhode  Island,  F.  E.  and 
Mrs.  Marchant.  This  was  the  smallest  number  of 
changes  ever  made  in  the  delegates  from  State  Granges 
to  a  session  of  the  National  Grange. 

Worthy  Master  Jones,  in  his  broad-minded  way,  in 
his  "address"  dwelt  upon  such  subjects  as  extension  of 
the  Order,  the  press,  field  meetings,  co-operation,  agri- 
culture, rural  mail  delivery,  postal  savings  banks, 
postal  telegraph  and  telephone  service,  and  forestry. 
After  giving  some  statistics  showing  the  great  value 
of  good  roads,  he  said :  "There  is  no  more  profitable 
investment  of  money,  nor  a  more  just  one,  than  that 
government  and  state  aid  should  be  rendered  to  de- 
velop a  complete  and  perfect  system  of  country  roads, 
and  stop  the  useless  waste  of  labor  and  money  annu- 
ally in  filling  mud  holes  and  grading  undrained  coun- 
try roads,  and  the  waste  of  energy  in  hauling  over 
unnecessarily  steep  grades.  The  time  is  here  when 
farmers,  for  all  they  have  done  in  building  railroads, 
improving  rivers  and  harbors,  in  the  interest  of  com- 
merce, in  fostering  manufacturing,  and  making  pos- 
sible our  great  towns  and  cities,  should  receive  liberal 
aid  in  building  good  roads,  enhancing  the  value  of  all 
real  estate,  and  adding  to  the  attractions  of  our  match- 
less country." 

On  the  subject  of  education  he  said: 

"It  has  been  repeatedly  urged  by  the  National,  State  and  Sub- 
ordinate Granges  that  nature  studies  and  the  elementary  prin- 
ciples of  agriculture  should  be  taught  in  our  public  schools.  We 
note  that  public  opinion  is  becoming  more  and  more  pronounced 
each  year  in  this  matter,  and  believe  in  the  near  future  this 
feature  will  become  a  part  of  our  public  school  system,  to  the 
very  great  advantage  of  agriculture  and  the  entire  community. 
Every  Grange  in  the  United  States  should,  in  fact  and  in  prac- 
tice, be  a  school  for  the  practical  demonstration  of  the  possibili- 
ties of  the  farms  of  its  members — should  be  a  farmers'  institute, 


AARON  JONES    THIRD  TERM I902-I903  227 

a  literary  society  teaching  practical  agriculture  and  developing 
trained  minds.  And,  in  addition,  each  Grange  should  be  a  school 
where  grace  and  ease  of  manner  and  all  the  forms  of  polite 
society  be  exemplified.  What  higher  commendation  could  be 
asked  than  that  all  the  members  should,  in  their  Grange,  in  their 
homes  and  in  their  lives  teach  the  great  lessons  of  gentility,  in- 
dustry, frugality,  and  characterize  all  their  acts  with  fidelity?" 

The  report  of  the  Treasurer  showed  total  receipts, 
$47,172.05;  total  expenditures,  $27,891.27;  leaving  a 
balance  in  Trust  Company  of  $19,280.78. 

The  Executive  .Committee  said  in  its  report : 

"The  Committee  met  on  the  first  day  of  January,  1903,  in  the 
city  of  Washington,  called  there  by  Worthy  Master  Aaron  Jones 
to  pay  our  tribute  of  respect  and  fraternal  admiration  for  our  Sec- 
retary John  Trimble,  who  died  on  the  Tuesday  morning  previous 
at  his  home  in  that  city. 

"January  3,  at  10  A.  M.,  he  was  quietly  laid  to  rest  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Order  he  loved  so  well,  Assistant  Secretary  of 
Department  of  Agriculture,  Brother  J.  H.  Brigham,  Master  of 
Maryland  State  Grange  Joseph  B.  Ager,  and  your  Committee, 
being  honorary  pall  bearers. 

The  committee  had  appointed  as  Secretary  C.  M. 
Freeman  of  Ohio,  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  John 
Trimble. 

The  property  of  the  National  Grange  consisted  of 
twenty-nine  farm  mortgages,  amounting  to  $44,322.50; 
deposits  in  savings  banks,  $7,793.15;  total  investments 
October  1,  1903,  $52,115.65;  amount  in  fiscal  agency, 
$19,280.78;  or  total  available  funds  of  $71,396.43; 
showing  an  increase  of  funds  during  the  fiscal  year  of 
$6,467.87. 

Secretary  C.  M.  Freeman  reported  three  hundred 
and  twenty-nine  dispensations  were  issued  in  the  year. 

O.  H.  Kelley,  the  only  surviving  member  of  the 
honored  seven  Founders  of  the  Order,  was  intro- 
duced by  Worthy  Lecturer  Bachelder  and  Worthy 
Chaplain  Thompson.  He  was  greeted  by  Worthy 
Master  Jones  with  a  few  feeling  and  touching  remarks, 


228  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

and  presented  to  the  National  Grange,  which  re- 
sponded with  a  hearty  ovation.  Mr.  Kelley  responded 
as  follows : 

"Worthy  Master  and  Patrons:  I  thank  you  for  the  many 
compliments  which  I  have  received.  The  general  who  plans  the 
battle  becomes  the  hero  if  successful,  but  do  not  forget  the  men 
behind  the  guns,  for  they  are  the  ones  who  win  the  victory. 
Great  credit  is  due  the  Deputies  and  Masters  of  Subordinate 
Granges. 

"The  magnificent  Order  of  today  is  far  different  from  the  raw 
recruits  that  I  drummed  up.  You  have  systematized  the  work  and 
made  it  the  marvel  of  all  agricultural  organizations. 

"But  remember  this,  the  magnet  that  holds  the  Order  together 
is  the  female  membership — where  you  find  noble  women,  there 
you  will  find  noble  men.    Again  I  thank  you." 

Worthy  Master  Jones  announced  a  reception  to 
Mr.  Kelley  immediately  after  the  close  of  morning- 
session. 

The  Worthy  Master,  in  a  few  well-chosen  remarks, 
introduced  Worthy  Past  Master  J.  H.  Brigham,  and 
present  Assistant  Secretary  of  Agriculture,  who,  after 
receiving  a  hearty  ovation  from  the  National  Grange, 
spoke  pleasantly  and  acceptably  for  half  an  hour,  both 
as  a  member  of  the  Order  and  a  representative  of  the 
National  Department  of  Agriculture,  which  depart- 
ment he  came  to  represent  by  direction  of  Secretary 
James  Wilson. 

Prof.  L.  H.  Bailey  of  Cornell  University,  and  Geo. 
M.  Whittaker,  Inspector  of  the  Dairy  Division  of  the 
Department  of  Agriculture,  addressed  the  body.  On 
invitation  of  the  National  Grange  Susan  B.  Anthony 
came  before  the  Grange  and  delivered  what  is  said  to 
have  been  her  last  public  address. 

An  unusual  event  was  the  golden  wedding,  the  fol- 
lowing account  of  which  is  taken  from  the  Journal : 

"On  Tuesday  evening,  November  17,  1903,  from  8  to  12 
o'clock,  a  golden  opportunity  was  afforded  the  officers  and  mem- 
bers of  the  National  Grange  by  Brother  Joseph  B.  and  Sister 
Jane  B.  Ager  of  Maryland,  who  celebrated  their  fiftieth  wed- 


AARON  JONES'  THIRD  TERM — I9O2-I903  229 

iding  anniversary  in  the  parlors  of  the  famous  caterer  Tael,  of 
Rochester.  An  elaborate  dinner  was  served,  and  mingling  with 
the  sweet  strains  of  music  rendered  by  the  orchestra  were  the 
merry  voices  of  100  guests.  With  Brother  Gardner  as  toast- 
master  and  Brothers  Jones,  Bachelder,  Horton,  Norris,  Wilson 
and  Atkeson  and  Sisters  Martha  M.  Wilson  and  B.  B.  Lord  as 
after-dinner  speakers,  aided  by  the  genial  host  and  hostess,  a 
rich  fraternal  program  was  rendered." 

The  National  Grange  favored  arbitration  and  con- 
demned the  war  spirit,  as  follows : 

"From  the  earliest  history  of  the  Order  the  Grange  has  advo- 
cated arbitration,  and  we  believe  that  in  the  enlightenment  of  this 
the  twentieth  century  all  international  differences  should  be  set- 
tled by  arbitration  instead  of  resorting  to  arms  and  the  shedding 
of  blood. 

"We  deplore  the  continued  prevalence  of  the  military  spirit, 
and  feel  the  fallacy  of  the  claim  that  extensive  preparation  for 
war  is  the  best  means  of  preserving  peace,  for  nations  thus  pre- 
pared are  like  pugilists  in  the  ring,  watching  for  an  opportunity 
to  strike  an  effective  blow.  It  must  be  remembered  that  war  does 
not  settle  disputes,  but  after  nations  engage  in  it,  frequently 
sacrificing  thousands  of  lives  and  millions  of  money,  a  commis- 
sion is  appointed  to  make  satisfactory  articles  of  agreement. 

"The  war  spirit  is  encouraged  and  fostered  by  the  training  of 
boys  in  military  tactics  as  practiced  in  many  schools.  We  believe 
that  such  training  should  cease,  and  in  its  stead  the  principles  of 
virtue  and  peace  implanted,  and  they  should  be  taught  that  a 
nation's  greatness  and  power  do  not  lie  in  its  arsenals  and  great 
naval  fleets,  but  in  the  honesty,  sobriety,  integrity,  morality  and 
intelligence  of  the  great  mass  of  her  people." 

On  Memorial  Sunday  Worthy  Lecturer  N.  J.  Bach- 
elder said  of  Mr.  Trimble : 

"I  first  met  Brother  Trimble  at  the  session  of  the  National 
Grange  in  Boston  in  1884,  when  I  assisted  him  in  the  Secretary's 
office,  and  in  the  same  capacity  at  several  succeeding  sessions. 
You  knew  him  so  well  that  no  words  of  mine  can  add  to  your 
respect  for  his  memory  and  regard  for  his  principles  of  honesty 
and  integrity.  No  person  of  greater  culture  and  refinement  or  of 
more  liberal  education  ever  honored  an  office  in  this  National 
Grange,  and  a  more  true  and  loyal  friend  never  was  found  any- 
where. Whether  in  the  performance  of  his  duties  as  Secretary 
of  this  organization,  in  his  obligations  to  his  church,  or  in  the 
sacred  duties  of  home  caring  for  an  invalid  wife,  he  was  the 


23O  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

same  embodiment  of  promptness,  loyalty  and  devotion.  The  sin- 
cerity of  any  statement  made  by  Brother  Trimble  was  never 
questioned,  and  his  intense  desire  to  wrong  no  one  was  well 
known  by  all  who  knew  him. 

"In  paying  this  loving  tribute  to  the  memory  of  good  Brother 
Trimble  I  am  moved  to  speak  of  the  eminent  success  of  his  life. 
This  success  was  not  marked  by  the  accumulation  of  riches  or 
the  attainment  of  high  official  distinction,  but  by  the  conscious- 
ness of  having  lived  a  pure,  honest,  Christian  life  for  the  good 
of  those  with  whom  he  associated,  which  at  the  last  moment 
was  worth  more  to  him  than  all  the  wealth  and  all  the  honor  the 
world  could  bestow.  The  influence  of  such  a  life  for  good  is 
greater  than  any  profession  of  goodness  and  intensifies  the  sad- 
ness at  the  final  parting.  The  memory  of  such  a  life  is  a  greater 
legacy  than  wealth  or  renown. 

"It  is  eminently  fitting  that  the  members  of  the  National 
Grange  express  their  deep  sorrow  at  the  death  of  a  brother  and 
associate  who  has  participated  with  them  in  similar  exercises 
on  so  many  Sunday  afternoons.  We  miss  his  inspiring  presence 
and  noble  example,  and  will  never  forget  his  characteristic,  'Good- 
by,  God  bless  you,'  at  the  close  of  the  session  of  the  National 
Grange  at  Lansing,  Mich. 

"With  softened  hearts  and  tearful  eyes  we  pay  this  tribute  to 
his  memory.  Similar  services  will  be  held  on  Sunday  of  the 
National  Grange  session  year  after  year.  Some  of  us  may 
participate  and  some  of  us  may  be  called  to  the  eternal  home  even 
before  another  session.  It  will  be  well  if  it  can  be  said  of  us,  as 
we  truly  say  of  our  departed  brother,  he  did  what  he  could  to 
make  the  world  better,  and  those  with  whom  he  associated  hap- 
pier by  kind  words,  good  deeds  and  exemplary  character.  The 
example  of  such  a  life  will  count  for  m^re  in  the  betterment  of 
the  world  and  the  uplift  of  humanity  than  can  be  measured  or 
stated.  We  mourn  the  loss  of  a  true,  noble,  loving  brother  and 
associate." 

It  was  ordered  "that  hereafter  at  National  Grange 
sessions  all  standing  committees  shall  consist  of  six 
members,  one-half  of  whom  shall  be  of  either  sex." 

The  Grange  went  on  record  in  support  of  govern- 
ment aid  for  roads  in  this  form : 

"Whereas,  the  United  States  government  has  expended  vast 
amounts  of  money  in  the  improvement  of  transportation  facilities 
by  river  and  harbor  appropriations  and  the  donation  of  vast 
tracts  of  valuable  land  in  aid  of  the  construction  of  railroads; 
therefore  be  it 


AARON  JONES'  THIRD  TERM — I902-I903  23I 

"Resolved,  That  the  National  Grange  favors  the  inauguration 
of  a  national  policy  for  the  improvement  of  highways,  and  the 
appropriation  by  Congress  of  a  liberal  amount  to  establish  a 
comprehensive  system  of  road  improvements  through  the  co- 
operation of  the  federal  and  state  governments,  suggesting  that 
the  general  features  of  what  is  termed  the  'Brownlow  bill'  embody 
with  some  modifications  the  essential  features  of  such  a  policy." 

It  also  indorsed  this : 

"Whereas  the  National  Grange  favors  every  means  for  the 
education  of  the  farmers'  sons  and  daughters,  and 

"Whereas  but  a  small  per  cent  of  farmers'  children  are  enabled 
to  attend  our  state  agricultural  colleges;  therefore  be  it 

"Resolved,  That  the  National  Grange  favors  the  plan  of  agri- 
cultural district  or  county  high  schools." 

C.  J.  Bell,  Vermont,  was  re-elected  a  member  of  the 
Executive  Committee.  After  the  election  Secretary 
Freeman  asked  the  privilege  of  moving  the  Secretary's 
office  from  Washington,  D.  C,  to  his  home  at  Tippe- 
canoe City,  O.  After  a  warm  discussion,  by  a  rather 
close  vote  the  privilege  was  granted.  The  expediency 
of  this  move  was  decidedly  doubtful,  overriding  as  it 
did  a  strong  sentiment  which  has  always  existed  in 
favor  of  maintaining  Grange  headquarters  at  the  Na- 
tional Capital. 


CHAPTER    XXI 

Aaron  Jones'  Administration — Fourth  and  Last  Term 
Two  Years,  1904-1905 — Thirty-Eighth  and  Thirty- 
Ninth  Sessions  of  the  National  Grange 

Meeting  for  the  second  time    on  the  Pacific    coast, 
the  thirty-eighth  session  of  the  National  Grange  as- 
sembled at  Portland,  Ore.,  November  16  to  25,  1904. 
All  the  officers  elected  at  the  last  session  were  present. 

Master — Aaron  Jones,  Indiana. 
Overseer — T.  C.  Atkeson,  West  Virginia. 
Lecturer — N.  J.  Bachelder,  New  Hampshire. 
Steward — J.  A.  Newcomb,  Colorado. 
Assistant  Steward — Geo.  W.  F.  Gaunt,  New  Jersey. 
Chaplain — W.  K.  Thompson,  South  Carolina. 
Treasurer — Mrs.  Eva  S.  McDowell,  New  York. 
Secretary — C.  M.  Freeman,  Ohio 
Gatekeeper — B.  C.  Patterson,  Connecticut. 
Ceres — Mrs.  Martha  M.  Wilson,  Illinois. 
Flora — Mrs.   Pauline  S.  Raine,  Missouri. 
Pomona — Mrs.  E.  M.  Derby,  Delaware. 
Lady  Assistant  Steward — Mrs.  Laura  T.  Raap,  California. 
Executive    Committee — E.    B.     Norris,     Chairman,  New   York; 
C.  J.  Bell,  Secretary,  Vermont;  F.  A.  Derthick,  Ohio. 

Twenty-five  states  were  represented  as  follows :  Cal- 
ifornia, Mrs.  Laura  T.  Raap;  Colorado,  J.  A.  and  Mrs. 
Newcomb;  Connecticut,  Orson  and  Mrs.  Wood;  Dela- 
ware, S.  H.  and  Mrs.  Derby;  Illinois,  Oliver  and  Mrs. 
Wilson;  Indiana,  Aaron  and  Mrs.  Jones;  Kansas,  E. 
W.  Westgate;  Maine,  O.  and  Mrs.  Gardner;  Massa- 
chusetts, Geo.  S.  and  Mrs.  Ladd;  Maryland,  J.  B.  and 
Mrs.  Ager;  Michigan,  Geo.  B.  and  Mrs.  Horton; 
Minnesota,  Sarah  G.  and  Mr.  Baird;  Missouri,  C.  O. 
and  Mrs.  Raine;  New  Hampshire,  H.  O.  and  Mrs. 
Hadley;  New  Jersey,  G.  W.  F.  and  Mrs.  Gaunt;  New 
York,  E.  B.  and  Mrs.  Norris;  Ohio,  F.  A.  and  Mrs. 

232 


AARON   JONES'   FOURTH   TERM — I904-I905  233 

Derthick;  Oregon,  B.  G.  and  Mrs.  Leedy;  Pennsyl- 
vania, W.  F.  and  Mrs.  Hill;  Rhode  Island,  F.  E.  and 
Mrs.  Marchant;  South  Carolina,  W.  K.  and  Mrs. 
Thompson ;  Vermont,  C.  J.  and  Mrs.  Bell ;  Washing- 
ton, J.  O.  Wing;  West  Virginia,  T.  C.  and  Mrs.  Atke- 
son ;  Wisconsin,  A.  C.  and  Mrs.  Powers. 

Worthy  Master  Jones  delivered  his  seventh  "annual 
address,"  which  eloquently  set  forth  the  achievement 
and  policies  of  the  Grange.    He  declared : 

"Our  Order  is  a  national  one,  national  in  all  its  work,  knowing 
no  north,  no  south,  no  east,  no  west.  United  by  the  silken  cord 
of  fraternity,  it  is  laboring  to  make  happier  and  more  prosperous 
homes  on  the  hills  and  in  the  valleys  of  New  England,  amid  the 
sugar,  rice  and  cotton  fields  of  the  South,  the  corn,  wheat  and 
pastural  lands  of  the  central  states,  as  well  as  to  increase  the  sun- 
shine and  prosperity  of  the  farm  homes  of  our  brothers  and 
sisters  who  live  in  the  fertile  valleys  fanned  by  the  breezes  of 
the  Pacific  Ocean.  It  is  the  purpose  of  this  great  fraternity  to 
increase  happiness  in  the  5,800,000  farm  homes,  and  make  agri- 
culture more  prosperous  in  all  parts  of  our  glorious  country.  It 
has  still  higher  and  grander  objects,  among  which  are  to  elevate 
the  standard  of  intelligence  among  the  farming  population  and  to 
inspire  in  them  more  exalted  ideas  of  citizenship. 

"This  organization  is  one  of  the  great  educational  forces  that 
teaches,  among  other  things,  that  honesty,  fair  dealing,  giving 
value  received  in  all  exchanges,  industry,  frugality  and  thrift, 
and  observing  the  Golden  Rule,  are  essential  characteristics  of 
good  citizenship,  setting  its  seal  of  condemnation  on  all  forms  of 
fraudulent  practices,  extortion  or  robbery,  whether  done  under 
the  forms  of  law,  by  combination,  monopoly,  or  trust  methods, 
or  by  the  more  vulgar  practice  of  common  stealing,  thus  build- 
ing up  a  public  sentiment  that  will  ostracize  the  man  or  corpora- 
tion that  amasses  millions  of  dollars  in  any  other  way  than  hon- 
orable methods,  based  on  the  principle  of  giving  value  received 
for  all  labor  or  articles  of  value. 

"In  the  matter  of  the  distribution  and  sale  of  the  products  of 
the  farm,  we  confront  the  most  difficult  problem  connected  with 
the  successful  management  of  the  farm.  The  members  of  the 
Grange  must  courageously  grapple  with  this  problem.  Condi- 
tions will  never  become  better  until  the  farmers  devise  better 
and  more  economic  methods  than  now  in  use. 

"A  generation  has  passed,  crowded  with  greater  advance- 
ment   than    any    similar    period    in    the    world's    history,    since 


234  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

our  organization  was  founded  to  meet  conditions  essential  to 
public  welfare.  It  was  consecrated  to  develop  the  best  social 
conditions,  to  foster  and  promote  good  citizenship,  to  develop 
agriculture,  to  secure  equity  in  the  business  relations  of  the 
agricultural  classes  with  the  industrial  and  commercial  interests 
of  our  country.  It  has  gone  steadily  forward  on  its  mission,  its 
standard  has  been  held  high  by  clean  hands  and  honest  hearts  of 
good  men  and  women  devoted  to  principle  above  sordid  and 
selfish  ambitions." 

Overseer  T.  C.  Atkeson  in  his  report  used  the  fol- 
lowing language,  which  undoubtedly  expressed  the 
Grange  sentiment  on  the  subject  of  war: 

"The  ambitious  policies  of  two  nations  have  clashed  and 
thousands  of  human  beings  are  being  sacrificed.  More  powerful 
than  all  the  arguments  of  peace  congresses,  this  frightful  war  is 
creating  sentiment  for  peace.  Their  hearts  hardened  by  ambi- 
tion and  their  ears  stopped  by  selfish  jealousies,  the  nations  of 
the  world  have  been  indifferent  to  the  appeals  of  humanity  and 
common  sense.  It  may  be  that  sheer  horror  will  accomplish  what 
reason  has  failed  to  do. 

"The  war  between  Russia  and  Japan  is  giving  a  picture  of  war 
as  seen  in  General  Sherman's  characterization,  and  the  whole 
world  now  realizes  the  butchery  of  modern  warfare.  Already 
tens  of  thousands  of  human  beings  have  been  slain,  tens  of  thou- 
sands more  have  been  maimed  by  wounds  or  stricken  by  dis- 
ease, and  the  titanic  struggle  goes  on.  It  has  become  simply 
and  solely  a  test  of  brute  strength  and  savagery.  No  one  with  a 
spark  of  humanity  can  read  the  stories  without  revulsion. 

"At  the  last  session  of  the  general  conference  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  a  Committee  on  International  and  Industrial 
Peace  said  in  its  report:  'History  is  the  record  of  human 
slaughter.  Ambition,  greed  and  despotic  power  of  the  ruler 
have  armed  nation  against  nation  in  exterminating  wars.  It  has 
been  the  business  of  one-third  of  the  human  race  to  mutilate  and 
kill  their  fellow-men.  The  making  of  deadly  engines  of  war  has 
absorbed  the  time  and  talents  of  some  of  the  ablest  of  men.  In 
all  the  leading  nations  of  the  Old  World  great  standing  armies 
are  intolerable  burdens  upon  the  people.  It  is  estimated  that 
one-eighth  of  the  human  race  have  been  killed  in  war,  and  that 
it  has  left  another  eighth  maimed  and  mangled  wrecks  of 
humanity.  Widows  and  orphans  have  been  left  desolate  and 
unprotected.  Hosts  of  physical  and  moral  cripples  have  been 
scattered  over  the  land.     Pension  lists  have  grown  to  enormous 


AARON  JONES'  FOURTH  TERM — I904-I905  235 

proportions  under  the  tap  of  the  drum  and  the  blare  of  bands. 
These  physical  wrecks  are  only  half  the  story.  War  demoralizes 
a  country  and  turns  in  upon  half  the  nations  streams  of  impurity, 
intemperance,  gambling,  ruffianism,  and  all  other  vices  generated 
in  its  cruel  sweep.'    How  true  is  this  horrible  picture ! 

"Agriculture  is  an  occupation  of  peace  and  thrives  only  under 
peaceful  conditions.  The  Grange  stands  for  peace,  equity  and 
justice,  and  has  always  advocated  arbitration  as  the  best  means 
of  settling  industrial  or  international  disputes.  The  true  spirit 
of  the  Grange  can  but  deprecate  any  and  everything  that  tends 
to  develop  the  war  spirit  in  our  own  country. 

"I  fully  agree  with  the  sentiment  Wayne  MacVeigh  expressed 
before  the  Boston  Peace  Conference :  'For  a  hundred  and  twenty 
years  the  Republic  prospered  beyond  any  poet's  dream.  It  was 
then  a  world-power  in  a  true  sense,  because  it  represented  to  all 
nations  the  strength  and  glory  of  liberty  and  peace.  Surely  even 
the  most  militant  person  cannot  doubt  that  our  present  army  and 
navy  are  more  than  ample  for  our  defense,  as  no  country  in  the 
world  is  in  the  least  danger  of  provoking  war  with  us.  It  is 
therefore  not  unreasonable  to  ask  that  the  preparations  for  wars 
which  can  never  happen,  except  by  our  own  fault,  should  cease, 
and  that  we  should  devote  ourselves  again  to  our  true  mission, 
that  of  commending  by  our  example  free  institutions  to  other 
nations ;  and  if  we  have  any  surplus  treasure  let  us  expend  it  in 
lightening  the  expenses  and  burdens  of  those  whose  days  are 
given  to  toil,  and  into  whose  lives  enters  far  too  little  of  bright- 
ness and  joy.'  Alas,  how  far  have  we  wandered  from  the  idea 
here  expressed ! 

"No  observant  citizen  can  doubt  but  that  the  spirit  of  mili- 
tarism is  greatly  on  the  increase  in  our  own  country;  and  between 
the  growth  of  colossal  fortunes  on  the  one  side  and  militarism 
on  the  other,  the  great  mass  of  our  citizenship  may  well  look 
to  the  future  with  some  degree  of  solicitude.  The  liberties  of  a 
free  people  have  never  been  overthrown  except  by  one  or  the 
other  of  these  influences  or  the  two  combined. 

"The  Grange  should  give  forth  no  uncertain  sound  in  its 
demands  for  peace,  and  its  influence  should  always  be  found  sup- 
porting all  things  that  make  for  peace,  love,  justice  and  mercy, 
among  our  great  citizenship.  One  of  the  nation's  greatest  war- 
riors said :     'Let  us  have  peace,'  and  I  reiterate  the  sentiment. 

"That  we  may  have  peace  let  us  have  less  of  the  getting  ready 
for  war,  and  just  why  the  science  of  war  should  be  yoked  up  with 
the  science  of  agriculture  in  our  agricultural  colleges  has  never 
been  clear  to  me,  and  has  always  seemed  like  an  effort  to  con- 
vert the  implements  of  peace  into  the  implements  of  war.    The 


236  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

two  things  do  not  mix  well  together  in  the  schools  or  in  the  coun- 
try. May  the  Grange  ever  teach  the  Christian  doctrine,  'Peace 
on  earth,  good  will  to  man!'" 

The  Treasurer's  report  showed  the  total  receipts, 
$52,716.85;  total  expenditures,  $32,225.93;  leaving  a 
balance  in  Trust  Company  of  $20,490.92. 

The  Secretary  reported  that  281  new  Granges  had 
been  organized  and  82  dormant  Granges  reorganized 
during  the  year. 

The  Grange  went  on  record  against  the  sale  of 
cigarettes;  strongly  favoring  a  parcels  post;  against 
free  passes;  favoring  a  standardized,  galvanized  fence 
wire;  against  congressional  seed  distribution;  and  on 
many  other  public  questions. 

For  the  first  time  since  1873  no  proposition  to  change 
the  Constitution  was  proposed,  indicating  that  the 
Order  was  at  last  becoming  satisfied  with  the  form  of 
its  organic  law. 

Past  Master  J.  H.  Brigham  had  died  during  the  year, 
and  impressive  services  were  held  on  Sunday  in  mem- 
ory of  members  of  the  National  Grange  who  had 
passed  away.  In  opening  these  services  Worthy  Mas- 
ter Jones  said : 

"Among  those  who  have  been  called  away  was  my  honored 
and  loved  predecessor,  Col.  J.  H.  Brigham.  And  well  do  I 
remember  the  last  time  he  presided  on  a  similar  occasion.  His 
stalwart  form  and  strong,  deep  voice  was  tender  and  full  of 
feeling.  I  deem  it  fitting  and  appropriate  to  address  you  in  the 
language  used  by  him  seven  years  ago  in  the  city  of  Harrisburg, 
Pa.  He  said  in  part :  'We  have  stood  by  the  bed  of  sickness 
and  death  with  outstretched  hands,  with  earnest  prayer,  to  save, 
but  all  in  vain.  Our  friends  go  hence  and  we  know  nothing  of 
the  mysteries  of  death.  Is  it  a  dreamless,  eternal  sleep,  or  but 
the  gateway  to  another  broader  and  higher  life  beyond  the  mists 
and  clouds  that  still  veil  from  mortal  eye  the  Great  Beyond? 
Are  the  friends  who  have  left  us  clothed  in  bright  raiment  not 
made  with  hands?  Truly  the  brightness  of  the  eternal  morning 
transfigures  them.  They  sing  sweet  songs  in  a  land  of  light  and 
love  we  do  not  know.  The  keenest  vision  cannot  penetrate  the 
darkness  that  engulfs  our  loved  at  the  portals  of  death.    No  mor- 


AARON  JONES'  FOURTH  TERM — I904-I905  237 

tal  ear  can  catch  the  strain  of  music  from  that  far-off  land.  We 
cannot  hear  the  rustle  of  the  glorious  raiment  of  the  redeemed. 
All  this  is  hidden  from  mortal  eyes.  So  far  as  absolute  knowledge 
extends,  all  is  darkness  and  doubt,  but  we  are  not  without  hope. 
Our  faith  reaches  beyond  the  night  of  death,  and  takes  hold  of 
the  promises  of  the  Great  Father  of  all.  When  we  annually  look 
upon  the  wondrous  transformation  of  the  material  universe; 
when  we  see  the  grass  turn  brown  and  die,  the  flowers  fade  away, 
and  the  trees  deprived  of  their  foliage,  the  whole  earth  locked 
in  the  icy  arms  of  what  seems  to  be  actual  death,  we  would  be 
in  despair  had  not  experience  taught  us  that  life  follows  closely 
upon  the  track  of  death  and  decay.  Spring  comes  again,  with  its 
warm,  life-giving  power,  and  the  earth  is  once  more  clothed  in  an 
"emerald  carpet."  The  flowers  bloom  again,  fresh  and  fair.  The 
trees  unfurl  their  banner  of  green  and  all  nature  pulsates  with 
new  and  vigorous  life.  May  we  not  hope,  then,  and  believe  with 
an  unshaken  faith  that  what  we  call  death  is  but  the  change  from 
a  lower  life  of  toil  and  sorrow  to  a  higher,  broader  and  grander 
life  in  that  land  where  no  sorrow  is,  where  death  cannot  sep- 
arate us  from  loved  ones?'" 

Many  other  members  gave  expression  of  the  high 
esteem  in  which  Past  Master  Brigham  and  the  other 
deceased  brothers  and  sisters  were  held  by  the  mem- 
bership of  the  Order. 

The  thirty-ninth  session  of  the  National  Grange 
assembled  in  Casino  Hall,  on  one  of  the  piers  jutting 
out  over  the  Atlantic  Ocean  at  Atlantic  City,  N.  J., 
November  15  to  23,  1905.  All  the  officers  were  present 
and  twenty-six  states  were  represented  by  the  same  dele- 
gates as  at  the  last  session,  except  as  follows :  Califor- 
nia, W.  V.  and  Mrs.  Griffith ;  Kentucky,  F.  P.  and  Mrs. 
Wolcott;  Delaware,  Henry  and  Mrs.  Walker;  Wash- 
ington, C.  B.  and  Mrs.  Kegley. 

Worthy  Master  Jones  had  publicly  announced  at 
the  time  of  his  last  election  that  he  would  not  be  a 
candidate  for  re-election.  He  delivered  at  this  session 
his  eighth  and  last  "annual  address,"  of  which  the  con- 
cluding paragraphs  follow : 

"Eight  years  ago  I  was  elected  Master  of  the  National  Grange 
—an  honor,  I  assure  you,  I  have  always  appreciated  most  highly. 


238  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

During  this  time  I  have  tried  to  be  loyal  to  agriculture  and  to 
discharge  the  duties  imposed  by  this  Order,  faithfully.  These 
duties  were  easy  and  pleasant,  made  so  by  the  fraternal  courtesy 
and  loyal  support  given  to  me  by  the  members. 

"The  Order  has  prospered  during  this  period,  having  made  a 
net  gain  of  membership  of  78  per  cent  and  a  net  increase  of  the 
funds  of  the  National  Grange  of  68  per  cent.  This  gratifying 
success  and  prosperity  came  to  the  Order,  not  from  any  merit 
of  mine,  but  on  account  of  the  united  efforts  of  its  members. 
No  factional,  sectional  or  partisan  prejudices  obtain  in  the  Order 
to  weaken  its  influence  and  power.  It  has  been  the  pleasure  of 
our  members  to  contribute  what  they  could  to  increase  the  pros- 
perity and  happiness  of  each  other,  to  elevate  agriculture,  pro- 
mote general  prosperity,  improve  society,  make  brighter,  happier 
and  more  sunny  farm  homes  in  all  parts  of  our  country. 

"This  session  closes  my  official  term.  I  return  to  you  the  gavel 
and  other  insignia  of  office  and  shall  take  my  place  as  a  humble 
member  with  the  great  army  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  I  need 
not  bespeak  for  my  successor  the  same  loyal  and  cordial  support 
and  courtesy  you  have  extended  to  me.  Your  devotion  to  the 
Order  will  inspire  you  to  continue  in  the  future  as  in  the  past 
to  loyally  support  the  officers  chosen  to  preside  over  your  deliber- 
ation, make  more  effective  their  efforts  to  extend,  improve  and 
strengthen  the  Order,  that  its  helpful  influence  may  be  felt  in 
every  farm  home  in  our  land. 

"As  the  years  come  and  go  industries  of  our  country  will 
prosper  and  decline,  fortunes  will  be  made  and  lost.  Even  gov- 
ernment may  change  its  form,  but  so  long  as  the  world  stands 
agriculture  will  be  the  foundation  of  national  wealth  and  pros- 
perity." 

Below  is  given  Treasurer  Eva  S.  McDowell's  com- 
plete report: 

Balance  in  the  fiscal  agency,  October  1,  1904 $20,490.92 

Secretary,  as  receipts  in  Secretary's  office 7,893.98 

Deposited  by  Farmers'  Loan  and  Trust  Co.,  interest 

on  account 461.01 

Deposited    by   E.    S.    McDowell,    Treasurer,    int.    on 

notes 2,469.77 

Deposited     by     E.     S.     McDowell,     Treasurer,     pay- 
ment on  notes 6,066.25 

Deposited  by  Treasurers  of  State  Granges  for  dues—  14,932.28 

Total   $52,314.21 


AARON  JONES     FOURTH   TERM,    1904-1905  239 

CONTRA 

Drawn  for  mileage  and  per  diem,  38th  session $11,134.77 

Drawn  by  order  of  the  Executive  Committee 14,561.51 

Balance  with  the  Farmers'  Loan  and  Trust  Co.,  Sep- 
tember  30,    1905 26,617.93 

Total    $52,314.21 

Total  Resources  of  the  National  Grange  on  October  1,  1905 

Balance  in  Farmers'  Loan  and  Trust  Co. $26,617.93 

Deposits  in  savings  banks  with  accrued  interest 13,336.33 

Loans  on  real  estate,  with  accrued  interest 47,458.20 

Unexpended  Deputy  fee  fund 375.80 

Total    $87,788.26 

Total  resources,  1904 $79,510.00 

This  shows  an  increase  during  the  year  of  $8,278.26. 

The  Secretary  reported  209  new  Granges  organized 
and  65  dormant  Granges  reorganized.  The  only  change 
made  in  officers'  salaries  was  to  increase  the  Treas- 
urer's salary  from  $400  to  $500  per  year. 

F.  P.  Wolcott  of  Kentucky  introduced  the  following, 
which  speaks  for  itself : 

"Whereas,  It  is  known  to  members  of  our  Order  everywhere 
that  all  but  one  of  the  seven  founders  of  the  Grange  organization 
have  passed  to  their  rest  and  their  reward,  and  that,  in  the 
changes  and  vicissitudes  of  life,  our  dearly  beloved  and  hon- 
ored brother,  O.  H.  Kelley,  to  whom,  beyond  all  others,  we  owe 
a  debt  of  gratitude  which  can  never  be  fully  measured  or  repaid 
by  this  or  succeeding  generations,  and  over  whose  head  more 
than  four  score  years  have  passed,  is,  with  his  dependent  family, 
in  need  of  the  fraternal  care  of  this  organization;  and 
"  "Whereas,  We  as  individuals  and  as  an  organization,  are 
bound  by  our  obligation,  re-affirmed  at  every  Grange  meeting, 
that  we  will  'exemplify  in  our  lives,  our  principles,'  'in  faith,  in 
hope,  in  charity  and  with  fidelity,'  therefore  be  it 

"Resolved,  By  the  National  Grange,  in  thirty-ninth  annual 
session  assembled,  that,  as  a  partial  token  of  our  appreciation 
as  an  organization  of  the  great  work  done  for  agriculture  and 
humanity  by  Brother  O.  H.  Kelley,  the  sum  of  $100  be  paid  to 
Brother  Kelley  from  the  funds  of  the  National  Grange  on  the 
first  day  of  each  month  during  the  remainder  of  his  natural  life." 

After  an  amendment,  providing  for  the  payment  of 


24O  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

$50   semi-monthly,   the   resolution   was   unanimously 
adopted. 

Later  the  Worthy  Gatekeeper  announced  the  arrival 
of  Mr.  Kelley,  and  the  Worthy  Master  welcomed  him  to 
the  National  Grange.  Mr.  Wolcott  most  earnestly  and 
eloquently  presented  to  Mr.  Kelley  a  tribute  for  his  life 
work  in  building  the  Order  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry, 
and  assured  him  of  the  love  and  esteem  with  which  he  was 
held  by  the  members  of  the  National  Grange  and  the 
Granges  of  America,  notified  him  of  the  action  of  the 
National  Grange  in  his  behalf  and  expressed  the  wish 
that  his  remaining  years  would  be  full  of  good  cheer 
and  comfort. 

Mr.  Kelley  expressed  his  appreciation  of  the 
warm  welcome  given  him  and  the  interest  manifested 
for  his  welfare.  He  wished  the  Order  continued  suc- 
cess for  the  remainder  of  time. 

The  denatured  alcohol  question  was  taken  up,  and 
the  National  Grange  earnestly  requested  Congress  to 
remove  the  revenue  tax  from  alcohol  rendered  unfit 
for  use  as  a  beverage.  It  was  believed  that  this  would 
open  up  an  immense  industry  and  afford  a  cheap  and 
safe  means  of  light,  heat  and  power.  The  Grange 
stuck  to  this  proposition  until  Congress  enacted  the 
desired  legislation,  but  for  some  reason  it  has  not 
brought  the  marvelous  blessings  which  were  claimed. 
The  future  may  redeem  the  promise  made  for  it. 

The  Committee  on  Education  reported  that: 

"Through  the  influence  of  the  Grange  and  other  educational 
influences  among  the  farmers  themselves,  the  agricultural  col- 
leges and  the  farmers  are  beginning  to  understand  each  other 
better.  Just  as  the  colleges  realize  the  conditions  as  they  exist, 
and  the  farmers  appreciate  the  need  of  better  preparation  for  the 
profession  of  agriculture,  will  the  attendance  continue  to  increase. 
There  should  be  a  medium  somewhere  in  educational  ethics  where 
the  colleges  and  the  farmers  can  meet  on  equal  and  harmonious 
ground.  The  true  philosopher  will  seek  to  find  the  means  of 
bringing  the  benefactors  and  the  beneficiaries  together.  Any  other 
policy  works  injury  to  both." 


AARON  JONES'   FOURTH   TERM,    I904-I905  24I 

All  subsequent  experience  has  shown  that  this  con- 
clusion was  correct,  and  the  agricultural  colleges 
throughout  the  country  have  learned  a  wholesome 
lesson  of  co-operation.  The  Grange  indorsed  the 
Adams  bill  giving  additional  financial  support  to  the 
agricultural  experiment  stations.  The  policy  of  utiliz- 
ing convict  labor  on  the  public  roads  was  heartily  in- 
dorsed, and  many  states  have  since  adopted  the  policy. 

An  amendment  to  the  By-Laws  was  adopted  "de- 
barring from  further  fellowship  any  member  of  the 
Order  who  engages  in  the  manufacture  of  intoxicating 
liquors."  From  the  beginning  the  Grange  has  been 
strongly  committed  against  the  liquor  traffic,  and  it 
has  many  times  gone  on  record  on  the  side  of  prohi- 
bition. 

Once  more  the  Grange  declared  in  favor  of  a  "par- 
cels post." 

"Whereas,  The  Postoffice  Department  of  the  United  States 
government  is  admirably  organized  and  equipped  to  perform  at 
reasonable  rates  the  services  so  expensively  performed  by  the 
express  companies,  being  particularly  well  prepared  to  deliver 
packages  of  considerable  size  (as  well  as  the  matter  now  car- 
ried) to  people  who  live  along  the  rural  mail  routes;  be  it 

"Resolved,  That  for  the  purpose  of  serving  the  people  more 
cheaply,  more  efficiently  and  without  discrimination,  the  Post- 
office  Department  should  be  authorized  and  directed  by  Congress 
to  provide  for  the  carrying  of  parcels  at  a  reasonable  rate  to 
any  and  all  people  in  the  United  States." 

Worthy  Master  Jones  having  declared  his  purpose 
to  retire,  the  election  of  his  successor  excited  more 
interest  than  usual.  The  officers  were  elected  and  in- 
stalled. 

In  behalf  of  the  National  Grange,  and  as  a  token  of 
love  and  esteem  from  the  entire  membership  of  the 
Order,  Mr.  Gaunt  presented  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  a 
silver  tea  service. 

"Eight  years  have  passed  since  you  were  elected 
Worthy  Master  of  the  National  Grange.  During  this 
period  you  have  won  the  confidence  and  love,  not  only 


242  PATRONS  OF  HUSBANDRY 

of  the  members  of  the  National  Grange,  but  of  all  the 
Patrons  of  Husbandry  throughout  our  land. 

"Whatever  prosperity  may  be  in  store  for  our  Order 
in  the  future,  the  administration  of  Aaron  Jones  must 
ever  stand  pre-eminent,  and  now,  Worthy  Master,  as 
a  slight  token  of  our  appreciation  of  your  loyalty  to 
the  Order,  and  your  friendship  to  ourselves,  allow  me 
to  present  you  this  tea  service ;  and  as  you  drink  of  its 
good  cheer  may  it  remind  you  of  the  love  and  the  sin- 
cere respect  of  the  members  of  the  National  Grange  for 
you  and  your  good  wife." 


CHAPTER    XXII 

N.  J.  Bachelder's  Administration — First  Term,  Two 
Years,  1906-1907 — Fortieth  and  Forty-First  Ses- 
sions of  the  National  Grange 

Following  a  year  of  active  work  and  Grange  pros- 
perity under  the  new  administration,  the  National 
Grange  met  in  fortieth  annual  session  in  the  Chamber 
of  Commerce,  Denver,  Col.,  November  14  to  23,  1906. 
The  officers,  elected  for  1906-1907,  were  all  present: 

Master — N.  J.  Bachelder,  New  Hampshire. 
Overseer — T.  C.  Atkeson,  West  Virginia. 
Lecturer — Geo.  W.  F.  Gaunt,  New  Jersey. 
Steward — J.  A.  Newcomb,  Colorado. 
Assistant  Steward — F.  E.  Marchant,  Rhode  Island. 
Chaplain — W.  K.  Thompson,  South  Carolina. 
Treasurer — Mrs.  Eva  S.  McDowell,  New  York. 
Secretary — C.  M.  Freeman,  Ohio. 
Gatekeeper — A.  C.  Powers,  Wisconsin. 
Ceres — Mrs.  C.  R.  F.  Ladd,  Massachusetts. 
Flora — Mrs.  Amanda  M.  Horton,  Michigan. 
Pomona — Mrs.  Sarah  G.  Baird,  Minnesota. 
Lady  Assistant  Steward — Mrs.  Joanna  Walker,  Delaware. 
Executive  Committee — E.  B.  Norris,  chairman,  New  York;  C.  J. 
Bell,  Secretary,  Vermont;  F.  A.  Derthick,  Ohio. 

The  following  twenty-four  states  were  represented: 
California,  W.  V.  and  Mrs.  Griffith;  Colorado,  J.  A. 
and  Mrs.  Newcomb;  Connecticut,  O.  S.  and  Mrs. 
Wood;  Delaware,  Hervey  and  Mrs.  Walker;  Illinois, 
Oliver  and  Mrs.  Wilson ;  Indiana,  Aaron  and  Mrs. 
Jones;  Kansas,  E.  W.  and  Mrs.  Westgate;  Maine,  O. 
and  Mrs.  Gardner;  Massachusetts,  C.  D.  and  Mrs. 
Richardson;  Maryland,  J.  B.  and  Mrs.  Ager;  Michi- 
gan, Geo.  B.  and  Mrs.  Horton ;  Minnesota,  Sarah  G. 
and  Mr.  Baird;  Missouri,  C.  O.  and  Mrs.  Raine;  New 
Hampshire,  H.  O.  and  Mrs.  Hadley;  New  Jersey,  Geo. 

243 


244  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

W.  F.  and  Mrs.  Gaunt;  New  York,  Geo.  A.  and  Mrs. 
Fuller;  Ohio,  F.  A.  Derthick;  Oregon,  A.  T.  and  Mrs. 
Buxton;  Pennsylvania,  W.  F.  and  Mrs.  Hill;  Rhode 
Island,  F.  E.  and  Mrs.  Marchant;  Vermont,  C.  J.  and 
Mrs.  Bell;  Washington,  C.  B.  and  Mrs.  Kegley;  West 
Virginia,  T.  C.  and  Mrs.  Atkeson ;  Wisconsin,  A.  C. 
and  Mrs.  Powers. 

This  was  the  first  session  over  which  N.  J.  Bachelder 
presided  as  Worthy  Master,  and,  as  usual  with  a  new 
Master,  the  membership  felt  some  solicitude  as  to  what 
he  would  say  in  his  first  "annual  address."  In  a  large 
measure  these  "addresses"  have  presented  the  correct 
history  of  the  Order  and  furnished  the  inspiration  and 
impulse  of  the  membership.  Few  "annual  addresses" 
have  shown  a  wider  comprehension  of  the  work  and 
policies  of  the  Order  than  this. 

"The  condition  of  the  Grange  throughout  the  country  is  pros- 
perous. The  constantly  expanding  influence  of  the  Grange  and 
the  greater  publicity  thereby  given  to  its  action  renders  the  con- 
ditions more  favorable  for  the  extension  of  the  Order.  A  sound 
financial  condition  is  as  essential  to  the  welfare  of  organizations 
as  individuals.  Agriculture  is  the  most  important  industry  in 
the  country  today,  because  it  is  a  productive  industry.  The  pres- 
ent seems  to  be  the  opportune  time  for  the  extension  of  a  popu- 
lar life  insurance  movement  throughout  the  United  States.  A 
bill  embodying  the  principles  of  national  aid  for  public  highways 
as  approved  by  the  Grange  was  introduced  into  Congress.  A 
denatured  alcohol  law  has  passed  Congress  providing  for  the 
use,  entirely  free  from  tax,  of  domestic  alcohol  rendered  unsuit- 
able for  internal  use.  The  evidence  submitted  to  Congress  dur- 
ing the  past  year  has  been  amply  sufficient  to  convince  every 
member  of  that  body  that  the  farmers  of  the  entire  country  are 
a  unit  in  their  desire  for  the  early  establishment  of  a  parcels 
post.  The  Grange  was  enabled  to  perform  last  winter  a  most 
important  service  in  preventing  the  enactment  of  the  notorious 
'ship  subsidy'  bill.  Transportation  should  be  made  to  serve  the 
people,  and  not  the  people  made  to  serve  the  interests  of  trans- 
portation. The  Grange  has  received  much  assistance  from  the 
friendly  attitude  of  the  press  in  all  sections  of  the  country.  The 
rural  mail  delivery  service,  largely  promoted  by  the  Grange,  has 
been  well  established  throughout  the  United  States.  The  free 
distribution  of  seeds  by  the  government  may  have  been  defensible 


N.  j.  bachelder's  administration,  1906-1907    245 

at  the  time  it  was  established,  but  changed  conditions  now  make 
it  little  less  than  farcical.  Along  the  line  of  legislation  the  in- 
fluence of  the  Grange  has  been  exerted  for  many  years,  molding 
public  opinion  and  crystallizing  it  into  laws,  for  the  benefit  of 
agriculture,  the  farmers  and  the  people  in  general." 

He  concluded  with  many  suggestions  for  the  general 
welfare  of  the  Order.  Because  of  its  relation  to  Grange 
principles,  the  following  extract  from  the  Worthy- 
Overseer's  report  is  included: 

"Early  in  its  history  the  Grange  declared  that  'we  propose 
meeting  together,  talking  together,  buying  together,  selling  to- 
gether, and  in  general,  acting  together  for  our  mutual  protection 
and  advancement  as  occasion  may  require.'  These  sound  eco- 
nomic propositions,  and  broader  principles  of  education  and 
co-operation,  as  laid  down  in  our  'Declaration  of  Purposes,' 
have  stood  the  test  of  time,  and,  founded  upon  them,  the  Grange 
has  withstood  the  assaults  of  opposing  forces  for  forty  years. 

"First  one  and  then  another  of  the  fundamental  propositions 
laid  down  by  the  Grange  have  been  exploited  as  a  'cure  all'  for 
all  the  ills  that  assail  the  tillers  of  the  soil.  Just  now  the  good  old 
Grange  doctrine  of  'selling  together'  seems  to  be  attracting  special 
attention,  and  I  am  sure  every  true  Patron  will  rejoice  at  the 
accomplishment  of  this  wholesome  doctrine,  whatever  the  means 
used  to  bring  it  about. 

"The  Grange  is  a  builder,  and  would  rather  place  one  brick  in 
the  temple  of  genuine  usefulness  than  to  destroy  a  castle  of 
errors.  From  the  farmer's  standpoint  it  is  a  safer  doctrine  to 
oppose  all  monopolies  than  it  is  to  seek  to  create  one. 

"We  are  proud  of  the  Grange,  of  its  principles,  of  the  record 
it  has  made,  and  of  its  deliberate  conservatism.  But,  my  brethren, 
someone  has  said:  'A  conservative  is  a  wallflower  specimen  of 
humanity  too  cowardly  to  be  in  the  firing  line.'  And  again  it  has 
been  said,  'There  is  altogether  too  much  restfulness  in  respecta- 
bility,' both  of  which  statements  possess  some  elements  of  truth. 

"The  Grange  should  remember  its  respectability,  but  keep 
wide  awake  at  all  times,  and  it  should  be  guided  by  the  safe 
conservatism  of  sound  thinking;  but  eminent  respectability  and 
sound  thinking  alone  will  not  do  if  we  are  'too  cowardly  to  be 
in  the  firing  line.'  The  Grange  will  cease  to  be  what  it  was 
designed  to  be  whenever  it  ceases  to  be  a  progressive  and  aggres- 
sive leader  in  everything  that  makes  for  the  betterment  of  coun- 
try life  and  rural  conditions. 


246  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

"We  are  living  in  strenuous  times,  and  many  new  sociological 
and  economic  problems  are  crowding  upon  us  and  demanding 
solution  and  settlement  at  the  hands  of  this  generation  of  Ameri- 
can people.  As  the  representative  of  more  than  one-third  of  our 
population  this  National  Grange  must  decide  how  much  re- 
sponsibility it  will  take  in  the  settlement  of  these  questions  aright. 
"With  the  law-ignoring  rich  on  one  side  of  us,  and  the  gov- 
ernment-destroying anarchists  on  the  other,  it  is  manifest  that  the 
perpetuity  of  American  liberty  depends  largely  upon  the  sober 
thinking,  loyalty  and  patriotism  of  our  rural  people,  for  whom 
and  to  whom  the  Grange  speaks  in  its  effort  to  create  a  whole- 
some public  sentiment.  The  responsibility  upon  this  body  of 
farmers  is  greater  than  many  good  people  seem  to  appreciate. 
.  With  that  responsibility  resting  upon  us  as  farmers  and  as 
citizens,  nothing  should  be  done  lightly  or  carelessly,  but  with 
seriousness  and  mature  deliberation." 

Worthy  Treasurer  Eva  S.  McDowell  reported  the 
total  resources  of  the  National  Grange,  October  1,  1906, 
as  follows :  Balance  with  Farmers'  Loan  &  Trust  Co, 
$20,896.30 ;  deposits  in  savings  banks,  with  accrued  in- 
terest, $13,877.33;  railway  and  other  bonds,  with  ac- 
crued interest,  $20,233.31;  loans  on  real  estate,  with 
accrued  interest,  $39,437-5°;  unexpended  deputy  fee 
fund,  $227.50;  a  total  of  $94,671.94;  giving  an  increase 
of  $6,883.68  for  the  year. 

The  Secretary  reported  249  new  Granges  and  66  dor- 
mant Granges  reorganized.  The  Grange  favored  gov- 
ernment aid  in  the  construction  of  public  roads;  op- 
posed increase  of  postage  on  second-class  matter;  rec- 
ommended for  careful  consideration  upon  well-matured 
and  carefully  guarded  plans,  the  inauguration  of  co- 
operative enterprises,  such  as  co-operative  creameries, 
elevators,  savings  banks,  trust  companies,  building  and 
loan  associations,  warehouses,  Grange  fire  insurance, 
co-operative  marketing  of  farm  products — but  that  the 
Grange  as  an  organization  should  not  become  responsible 
for  their  management  or  obligations ;  favored  the  enact- 
ment of  state  and  national  laws  restricting  the  amount  of 
land  that  may  be  owned  or  leased  by  a  single  individual 
or  corporation,  and  that  the  taxing  power  be  used  to 


n.  j.  bachelder's  administration,  1906-1907    247 

restrict  and  break  up  the  holding  of  excessively  large 
quantities  of  land ;  favored  the  placing  of  a  progressive 
tax  upon  all  fortunes  beyond  a  certain  amount,  either 
given  in  life  or  devised  or  bequeathed  upon  death  to 
any  individual — a  tax  so  framed  as  to  put  it  out  of  the 
power  of  the  owner  of  one  of  these  enormous  fortunes 
to  hand  more  than  a  certain  amount  to  any  one  indi- 
vidual ;  urged  Congress  to  abolish  the  franking  and 
penalty  privileges  and  require  all  mail  matter  to  be 
prepaid  at  the  regular  postage  rates,  as  was  formerly 
the  law ;  required  the  compensation  of  all  officers  of  the 
National  Grange  to  be  fixed  at  the  session  of  the  biennial 
election,  and  prior  to  the  election  of  said  officers — com- 
pensation not  to  be  reduced  or  increased  during 
their  term  of  office ;  and  passed  many  other  resolutions  of 
more  or  less  public  interest. 

C.  J.  Bell  of  Vermont  was  re-elected  a  member  of 
the  Executive  Committee  for  the  term  of  three  years. 

The  forty-first  annual  session  of  the  National  Grange 
met  at  Hartford,  Ct.,  November  13-22,  1907.  All  the 
officers  were  present  and  twenty-six  states  were  rep- 
resented, with  the  following  changes  since  the  last 
session:  Kansas,  Geo.  and  Mrs.  Black;  Maryland, 
H.  J.  and  Mrs.  Patterson ;  New  York,  F.  N.  and  Mrs. 
Godfrey ;  Vermont,  G.  W.  and  Mrs.  Pierce ;  Kentucky, 
F.  P.  and  Mrs.  Wolcott. 

The  annual  address  of  Worthy  Master  Bachelder 
was  fully  up  to  the  highest  standard,  discussing  in  a 
substantial  way  the  usual  Grange  topics.  On  the  sub- 
ject of  "Grange  Participation  in  Public  Affairs,"  he 
said : 

"The  development  of  manufacturing,  transportation  and  com- 
mercial interests  is  not  only  an  advantage  but  a  necessity  to  agri- 
culture, but  those  interests  have  no  claim  for  public  recognition 
that  take  precedence  over  the  claim  of  agriculture.  This  state- 
ment holds  true  in  regard  to  the  establishment  of  policies  and 
the  enactment  of  laws.  If  conditions  exist  under  which  the 
manufacturer,  the  railroad  manager  and  the  merchant  can  pay 


248  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

prices  for  labor  in  the  transaction  of  their  business  that  the 
farmer  cannot  afford  to  pay  there  is  reason  to  investigate  the 
cause  of  such  conditions.  The  advice  of  those  who  would  limit 
the  work  of  this  great  farmers'  organization  to  a  study  of  crop 
production  and  stock  feeding,  important  and  necessary  as  these 
may  be,  is  not  suggestive  of  a  deep  sincerity  for  the  farmers' 
interests.  It  is  not  wise  to  leave  the  management  of  public  af- 
fairs affecting  agriculture  to  others,  inasmuch  as  ours  is  the 
basic  undustry  upon  the  prosperity  of  which  prosperity  in  all 
other  industries  depends.  The  field  of  study  and  investigation 
open  to  the  farmers  through  this  organization  is  as  broad  as  the 
field  open  to  any  other  class  of  people  without  infringing  in  the 
least  upon  partisan  or  sectarian  ground.  It  is  not  only  the  farm- 
er's right,  but  his  duty,  to  engage  in  a  discussion  of  public 
matters." 

He  discussed  the  "Grange  and  Trusts"  at  some 
length,  and  said  that : 

"The  National  Grange  was  invited  to  send  delegates  to  the 
so-called  Trust  Conference  held  under  the  auspices  of  the  Na- 
tional Civic  Federation  at  Chicago,  and  were  given  a  place  upon 
the  program.  As  Master  of  the  National  Grange,  I  delivered  the 
address,  and  at  its  close  introduced  the  following  resolution : 

"Resolved,  That  we  recommend  to  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States  the  appointment  of  a  permanent,  nonpartisan  tariff  com- 
mission, composed  of  representatives  of  the  agricultural,  labor, 
manufacturing,  transportation  and  commercial  interests  of  the 
country,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  examine  into  all  phases  of  the 
subject  and  secure  exact  information  concerning  all  disputed 
points  and  report  their  findings  to  Congress  at  the  earliest  pos- 
sible date." 

The  Grange,  in  one  form  and  another,  had  declared 
in  favor  of  a  tariff  commission,  and  it  was  among  the 
first  to  advocate  such  a  policy,  but  always  demanded 
that  agriculture  and  labor  should  be  adequately  repre- 
sented on  such  "commissions."  A  tariff  commission, 
dominated  by  the  protected  interests,  would  prove  a 
calamity. 

Parcels  post  and  postal  savings  banks  were  heartily 
indorsed  by  the  Worthy  Master.  In  conclusion  he 
gave  this  account  of  his  activities : 


n.  j.  bachelder's  administration,  1906- 1907    249 

"During  the  year  we  have  had  the  honor  of  accepting  an  invi- 
tation to  represent  the  Grange  at  the  Peace  Congress  in  New- 
York,  at  the  dedication  of  the  Agricultural  Building  at  Cornell 
University,  at  a  Rural  Progress  meeting  in  Massachusetts,  at  the 
one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  incorporation  of  a  town  in 
Maine,  at  the  National  Tax  Conference  in  Ohio,  and  at  the  Anti- 
Trust  Conference  in  Chicago.  We  have  attended  the  annual 
sessions  of  the  State  Grange  in  five  states  and  have  attended  field 
and  other  meetings  on  invitation  of  the  State  Master  in  seven- 
teen states.  We  have,  as  a  member  of  the  Legislative  Com- 
mittee, represented  the  Grange  at  the  White  House,  before  de- 
partments of  the  government,  and  before  committees  in  both 
branches  of  Congress.  We  have  neglected  no  opportunity  to 
enable  the  Grange  to  represent  the  farmers  in  the  great  depart- 
ments of  the  government  as  well  as  in  state  affairs,  those  with 
whom  we  have  been  associated  in  this  work  being  entitled  to  a 
large  share  of  credit  for  the  results." 

The  closing  paragraph  in  the  Worthy  Overseer's  re- 
port said : 

"The  Grange  has  upon  it  a  tremendous  responsibility  in  these 
modern  days,  which  it  can  meet  only  by  the  radicalism  of  sound 
thinking  and  the  conservatism  of  deliberate  action.  Superficial 
thinking  and  ill-advised  action  will  not  discharge  our  responsi- 
bility or  accomplish  the  ends  sought.  Into  every  action  of  the 
Grange  must  be  put  the  most  virile  brains  that  can  be  found  upon 
American  farms  if  it  would  discharge  the  obligations  it  owes  to 
the  country  and  posterity.  The  responsibility  that  is  upon  the 
Grange  as  an  organization  is  also  upon  each  one  of  us  as  indi- 
viduals." 

The  Worthy  Treasurer  reported  the  total  resources 
of  the  National  Grange,  October  1,  1907,  as  $102,921.44, 
a  gain  of  $8,249.50.  For  the  first  time  since  the 
Charleston,  S.  C,  meeting  in  1875  the  total  resources  of 
the  National  Grange  exceeded  $100,000. 

The  Worthy  Secretary  reported  252  new  Granges 
organized  and  41  dormant  Granges  reorganized. 

At  a  public  meeting  the  President  of  the  New  York, 
New  Haven  and  Maine  railroad  was  invited  to  address 
the  meeting,  and  the  following  action  of  the  National 
Grange  is  of  some  interest : 


250  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

"Under  reports  of  standing  committees,  Brother 
Jones,  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions, 
made  the  following  report,  which  was  adopted : 

"Resolved,  That  the  members  of  the  National  Grange  do  not 
wish  the  impression  to  go  abroad  that  the  statements  made  by- 
all  the  speakers  at  the  public  reception  last  evening  are  a  portion 
of  the  Grange  creed.  A  railroad  president  was  invited  to  speak, 
and  the  members  courteously  listened  to  his  prepared  address, 
with  many  innuendoes  susceptible  of  varied  construction,  some  of 
which  would  place  our  Order  before  the  world  in  a  false  posi- 
tion. The  National  Grange,  at  its  first  session  after  said  public 
meeting,  desires  to  publicly  declare  it  is  not  responsible  for  the 
sentiments  or  expressions  in  said  address  above  referred  to. 

"Resolved,  That  the  National  Grange  firmly  and  unflinchingly 
stands  on  its  declaration  of  principles  in  opposition  to  all  trusts 
or  combinations  that  use  unfair  methods  to  exploit  the  people. 

"Resolved,  That  we  wage  no  warfare  against  railways  or  any 
other  corporations  that  conduct  their  business  along  lines  of 
fairness,  and  we  further  declare  it  to  be  the  fixed  and  deter- 
mined principle  of  our  Order  that  all  men  or  corporations,  rich 
or  poor,  great  or  small,  shall  obey  the  laws  of  our  country." 

F.  A.  Derthick  of  Ohio  offered  the  following,  which 
was  adopted : 

"Whereas,  Publicity  is  recognized  as  the  most  potent  power 
at  the  command  of  the  people  for  the  elimination  of  graft  from 
all  public  business  and  for  the  development  of  a  high  degree  of 
economic  efficiency  in  the  administration  of  all  public  affairs  of 
the  school  district,  village,  city,  county  and  state  and  of  the  fed- 
eral government;  and 

"Whereas,  Publicity  is  one  of  the  means  of  ascertaining  some 
of  the  evils  with  which  public  service  corporations  stand  charged ; 
and  to  the  end  that  the  people  may  know  the  truth  and  be  thus 
equipped  to  act  wisely  upon  all  questions  of  public  policy,  and 
especially  upon  questions  regarding  the  regulation  of  public 
service  corporations;  be  it 

"Resolved,  First,  that  all  states  and  the  federal  government 
should  enact  a  uniform  public  accounting  law,  requiring  all  pub- 
lic accounts  of  every  kind  to  be  kept  by  a  uniform  system  pre- 
scribed and  audited  by  state  or  by  federal  authority;  and,  sec- 
ond, that  all  accounts  of  every  person,  firm  or  corporation  who 
are  beneficiaries  of  any  special  privilege  in  whatever  form 
granted,  whether  by  a  state  or  by  the  federal  government,  shall 
be  required  to  keep  all  the  books,  accounts,  papers  and  records 


n.  j.  bachelder's  administration,  1906-1907    251 

in  the  manner  and  form  prescribed  by  the  state  or  federal  gov- 
ernment by  which  such  special  privilege  is  granted,  and  all  such 
books,  accounts,  papers  and  records  shall  be  subject  to  inspection 
and  audit  at  the  pleasure  of  the  authority  prescribing  the  same." 

For  many  years,  in  one  form  and  another,  the  ques- 
tion of  establishing  a  Grange  official  newspaper  had 
been  considered,  and  at  the  session  in  1907  the  matter 
was  referred  to  the  Executive  Committee.  In  their 
report  was  this  statement : 

"The  earnest  desire  of  the  members  of  the  Order,  so  often 
expressed  by  the  Masters  of  National  and  State  Granges,  for  a 
national  organ,  took  definite  shape  at  the  last  annual  meeting. 
By  resolution  at  the  Denver  session  the  Executive  Committee 
was  instructed  to  plan  for  the  publication  of  a  first-class  weekly 
paper  as  soon  as  suitable  arrangements  could  be  made,  provided 
that  the  plan  be  referred  to  the  State  Masters  and  receive  a 
majority  of  votes  before  any  contract  was  made.  In  compliance 
with  their  instructions  the  Executive  Committee  entered  vigor- 
ously upon  the  task  assigned  to  it,  with  the  result  that  arrange- 
ments were  completed  which  met  the  almost  unanimous  approval 
of  the  State  Masters. 

"Regular  publication  began  on  the  sixth  of  November,  and 
the  paper  speaks  for  itself.  The  editorial  policy  is  absolutely 
controlled  by  the  Executive  Committee.  Worthy  Master  Bach- 
elder  was  appointed  editor-in-chief.  His  ability  as  a  writer  and 
knowledge  of  Grange  requirements  and  of  the  right  method  of 
handling  the  great  public  questions  from  the  Grange  standpoint 
is  unquestioned.  The  staff  of  associated  editors  is  composed  of 
able  writers  and  loyal  leaders  of  the  Order,  well  known,  and  we 
feel  sure  that  their  selection  will  meet  with  your  approval.  For 
the  business  staff  we  have  the  highest  admiration  for  their  busi- 
ness standing  and  ability  and  commend  them  as  justly  entitled 
to  your  full  confidence  and  support. 

"We  feel  sure  our  organ  is  certain  of  the  success  we  all  hope 
for,  but,  like  all  other  business  ventures,  it  must  be  pushed  and 
loyally  sustained  by  every  friend  of  the  Order  if  it  is  to  achieve 
the  most  perfect  results.  Every  Patron  should  feel  this  is  his 
paper  and  one  whose  columns  will  be  devoted  entirely  to  the 
interests  and  advancement  of  the  Grange." 

The  following  resolutions  were  adopted : 

"Resolved,  That  no  alien  shall  be  allowed  to  hold  title  to  lands 

in  the  United  States  before  declaring  his  intention  of  becoming 

a  citizen. 


252  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

"Resolved,  That  the  National  Grange  sympathizes  with  labor 
and  will  assist  in  putting  it  in  the  highest  condition  of  life  and 
living  of  any  labor  class  in  any  nation ;  but  we  have  no  sympathy 
for  any  class  resorting  to  lawlessness  or  criminality.  Such  should 
be  without  hesitation  or  delay  suppressed  and  punished ;  we 
cannot  have  a  stable  government  unless  on  these  conditions.  No 
good  can  come  to  the  nation  or  to  the  people  thereof  where  law- 
lessness or  criminality  is  allowed  or  tolerated." 

The  National  Grange  unanimously  decided  that: 

"The  forests  of  the  United  States,  the  title  to  which  has  not 
passed  from  the  people,  should  be  reserved  for  all  time  to  them, 
and  their  care  and  management  should  be  with  the  Department 
of  Agriculture.  Their  preservation  is  of  vital  importance.  No 
title  to  any  portion  of  the  forests  of  the  United  States  should 
pass  from  the  people  thereof." 

The  third  Sunday  in  June  was  adopted  as  Grange 
Memorial  Day. 

To  get  a  true  estimate  of  the  scope  and  quality  of 
the  work  done  at  a  session  of  the  National  Grange,  one 
must  read  the  carefully  prepared  reports  of  committees 
and  the  reports  of  officers ;  and  to  get  some  idea  of  the 
work  done  in  the  several  states  one  should  read  the 
reports  of  Masters  of  State  Granges  made  to  the  Na- 
tional Grange. 


CHAPTER    XXIII 

N.  J.  Bachelder's  Administration — Second  Term,  Two 

Years,  1908-1909 — Forty-Second  and  Forty-Third 

Sessions  of  the  National  Grange 

The  forty-second  session  of  the  National  Grange 
met  in  the  National  Hotel  Hall,  Washington,  D.  C, 
November  11  to  19,  1908.  The  officers  were  all  present 
and  in  their  places  when  the  Grange  opened : 

Master — N.  J.  Bachelder,  New  Hampshire. 
Overseer — T.  C.  Atkeson,  West  Virginia. 
Lecturer — Geo.  W.  F.  Gaunt,  New  Jersey. 
Steward — J.  A.  Newcomb,  Colorado. 
Assistant  Steward — C.  D.  Richardson,  Massachusetts. 
Chaplain — O.  S.  Wood,  Connecticut. 
Treasurer — Mrs.  Eva  S.  McDowell,  New  York. 
Secretary — C.  M.  Freeman,  Ohio. 
Gatekeeper — A.  C.  Powers,  Wisconsin. 
Ceres — Mrs.  Elizabeth  H.  Patterson,  Maryland. 
Pomona — Mrs.  Sarah  G.  Baird,  Minnesota. 
Flora — Mrs.  Ida  Judson,  Iowa. 

Lady  Assistant  Steward — Mrs.  Joanna  M.  Walker,  Delaware. 
Executive   Committee — F.   N.   Godfrey,   Chairman,   New   York; 
C.  J.  Bell,  Secretary,  Vermont;  C.  O.  Raine,  Missouri. 

Twenty-six  states  were  duly  represented:  Cali- 
fornia, W.  V.  and  Mrs.  Griffith ;  Colorado,  John  and 
Mrs.  Morris ;  Connecticut,  L.  H.  Healey ;  Delaware, 
Hervey  and  Mrs.  Walker;  Idaho,  D.  C.  Mullen;  Il- 
linois, Oliver  and  Mrs.  Wilson ;  Indiana,  Aaron  and 
Mrs.  Jones;  Iowa,  A.  B.  and  Mrs.  Judson;  Kansas, 
George  and  Mrs.  Black;  Kentucky,  F.  P.  and  Mrs. 
Wolcott ;  Maine,  C.  S.  and  Mrs.  Stetson ;  Maryland, 
H.  J.  and  Mrs.  Patterson ;  Massachusetts,  C.  D.  and 
Mrs.  Richardson ;  Michigan,  George  B.  and  Mrs.  Hor- 
ton;  Missouri,  C.  O.  and  Mrs.  Raine;  New  Hampshire, 
H.  O.  and  Mrs.  Hadley;  New  Jersey,  Geo.  W.  F.  and 

263 


254  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

Mrs.  Gaunt;  New  York,  F.  N.  and  Mrs.  Godfrey ;  Ohio, 
F.  A.  Derthick;  Oregon,  Austin  T.  and  Mrs.  Buxton; 
Pennsylvania,  Mrs.  Marie  A.  Hill ;  Rhode  Island,  F.  E. 
and  Mrs.  Marchant;  Vermont,  Geo.  W.  Pierce;  Wash- 
ington, C.  B.  and  Mrs.  Kegley;  West  Virginia,  T.  C. 
and  Mrs.  Atkeson;  Wisconsin,  H.  M.  Culbertson. 
The  Worthy  Master  reported: 

"The  organization  of  a  State  Grange  in  Idaho  has  been  accom- 
plished, and  the  state  is  represented  at  this  session  of  the  Na- 
tional Grange  for  the  first  time." 

Of  the  condition  of  the  Order,  he  said : 

"Through  the  efforts  of  the  officers  of  the  National  and  State 
Granges,  supplemented  by  the  efforts  of  an  active  and  harmonious 
membership,  a  larger  number  of  Subordinate  Granges  has  been 
organized  in  the  country  than  in  any  year  since  1878,  with  one 
year  excepted,  representing  every  state  entitled  to  representation 
in  the  National  Grange.  The  increase  in  membership  is  about 
ten  per  cent,  which  is  a  remarkable  showing,  in  view  of  the  fact 
that  the  organization  has  passed  the  period  of  experimentation 
and  is  building  upon  the  well-established  basis  of  recognized 
merit  and  substantial  achievement.  Great  encouragement  exists 
among  the  members  throughout  the  country,  unprecedented  in 
the  past,  and  abiding  faith  in  the  principles  of  the  organization 
for  promoting  the  interests  of  the  American  farmer.  With  the 
words  in  our  Declaration  of  Purposes,  'We  pledge  ourselves  to 
faithful  and  harmonious  labor  for  all  future  time,'  ringing  in  our 
ears,  we  can  view  with  complacency  the  record  of  the  forty-first 
year,  just  closed,  in  all  that  tends  to  perpetuate  this  great  Order." 

_  Discussing  the  Roosevelt  "Country  Life  Commis- 
sion," he  said  : 

"Further  evidence  of  the  increasing  interest  that  is  being  taken 
in  all  matters  pertaining  to  agriculture  is  shown  in  the  appoint- 
ment by  the  President  of  a  "Commission  on  Country  Life,"  for 
the  purpose  of  making  a  thorough  investigation  into  the  condition 
of  the  American  farmers,  and  reporting  as  to  the  reforms  which 
will  contribute  toward  making  life  on  the  farm  more  agreeable, 
and  the  vocation  of  agriculture  more  desirable.  The  Commis- 
sion, of  which  Prof.  L.  H.  Bailey  of  Cornell  University  is  chair- 
man, is  now  engaged  in  collecting  the  opinions  and  recommenda- 
tions of  representative  farmers  in  all  sections  of  the  country, 
through  circular  letters  asking  for  information  on  various  phases 


n.  J.  bachelder's  administration,  1908-1909    255 

of  farm  life.  It  is  expected  that  as  the  result  of  these  inquiries 
sufficient  data  will  be  secured  on  which  to  base  recommendations 
for  action  by  Congress  that  will  provide  a  remedy  for  the  evils  in 
existing  conditions  that  can  be  cured  or  ameliorated  by  Federal 
legislation." 

The  Worthy  Overseer,  in  discussing  the  "Country 
Life  Commission,"  gives  the  subject  from  the  farmei 
viewpoint : 

"I  feel  sure  that  if  some  people  were  better  acquainted  with 
the  ladies  and  gentlemen  who  compose  this  body,  and  the  mem- 
bership of  the  Grange  generally,  there  would  be  less  inclination 
to  'go  slumming'  among  the  farmers  of  this  country.  Agricul- 
ture is  largely  the  most  important  industry  in  America,  whether 
measured  in  the  dollars  of  commercial  wealth  or  in  its  funda- 
mental importance  to  human  life  and  civilization.  And  that  is 
not  all;  measured  by  any  standard  of  citizenship,  the  farmers  of 
the  United  States  are  the  peers  of  any  other  class  of  our  entire 
population.  They  represent  the  steady,  loyal  and  patriotic  ele- 
ment of  American  society  upon  which  the  government  can  safely 
rely  in  any  emergency. 

"This  being  the  fact,  I  confess  that  so  much  talk  about  'bet- 
terment' and  'uplift'  in  connection  with  the  farmer  class  makes 
me  just  a  little  bit  weary.  All  such  talk  implies  a  whole  lot  that 
is  not  true,  but  I  try  not  to  resent  it  unkindly  because  of  the 
evident  good  intentions  of  the  people  who  talk  it.  Suppose  we 
try  a  little  of  the  'uplift'  business  upon  our  senators,  congress- 
men and  legislators,  governors,  trust  magnates,  stock  gamblers, 
railroad  wreckers  and  rich  malefactors.  Some  of  them  certainly 
need  it,  if  we  are  to  believe  the  accumulated  evidence  of  the  last 
few  years.  It  might  be  well  for  the  National  Grange  to  appoint 
a  'Commission  on  City  Life,'  and  ask  the  farmers,  teachers,  min- 
isters, business  men  and  others  to  report  on  the  conditions  of 
city  life,  and  'what  needs  to  be  done.'  Now,  I  am  not  sure  that 
I  know  what  needs  to  be  done  in  the  city,  but  I  am  sure  there 
is  more  evil  and  more  ignorance  there  than  in  the  country,  and 
while  I  may  not  know  what  should  be  done  to  'uplift'  our  city 
people,  I  am  convinced  that  I  know  as  much  about  it  as  the  city 
men  know  what  needs  to  be  done  to  'uplift'  country  life.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  and  in  all  seriousness,  the  farmers  of  the  United 
States  are  all  right,  and  the  only  thing  that  'needs  to  be  done'  is 
to  give  them  a  square  deal  before  the  laws  of  the  land,  and  they 
will  work  out  their  own  salvation  in  their  own  healthy  and  manly 
way.  The  farmers  of  this  country  ask  no  special  privileges. 
They  do  not  desire  to  be  patronized  or  coddled.     They  are  not 


256  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

'mollycoddles,'    but    strong    and    vigorous    types    of    American 
manhood. 

"Abolish  the  special  privileges  certain  individuals  and  certain 
intdests  have  been  enjoying,  and  guarantee  to  every  man,  whether 
rich  or  poor,  and  every  interest,  whether  great  or  small,  equal 
rights  and  privileges  before  the  laws  of  the  land,  and  the  great 
wealth-producing  farmer  class  will  take  care  of  itself,  and  come 
as  near  giving  themselves  an  'uplift'  by  their  own  boot  straps  as 
any  class  of  people  in  the  world.  I  have  no  doubt  their  report 
will  contain  much  valuable  information  bearing  upon  economic 
questions  in  which  the  farmers  are  largely  interested.  The  best 
and  most  valuable  of  such  information  must  come  from  the 
farmers  themselves,  and  not  from  the  'teachers,  ministers,  busi- 
ness men  and  others,'  whose  assistance  is  to  be  sought.  The 
Grange,  in  its  organized  capacity  and  through  its  individual  mem- 
bers, should  do  all  that  it  can  to  assist  the  Commission  in  under- 
standing the  true  situation,  and  as  a  starting  point  it  might  be 
well  for  it  to  read  the  Grange  'Declaration  of  Purposes,'  which 
was  adopted  thirty-four  years  ago. 

"On  the  whole,  we  are  rather  glad  the  'Commission  on  Rural 
Life'  has  been  appointed,  but  why  prolong  this  discussion?  Let's 
wait  and  see  what  comes  out  of  it.  If  it  were  not  for  the  intima- 
tion that  there  is  something  the  matter  with  that  mighty  army 
of  stalwart  citizens,  who  dig  from  the  earth  annually  $8,000,000,- 
000  worth  of  wealth,  and  feed  our  own  one  hundred  millions  of 
people  and  the  other  nations  of  the  earth,  I  should  feel  inclined 
to  smile.  But  what  is  the  use?  Give  them  a  square  deal  and  a 
fair  share  of  the  wealth  they  produce,  and  see  what  a  mighty 
'uplift'  the  American  farmer  and  American  agriculture  will  get. 
"A  leading  agricultural  paper  asks  the  pertinent  quesi  in:  'By 
what  authority  are  farmers  declared,  both  directly  and  by  impli- 
cation, to  be  behind  other  great  classes  of  people  and  in  need  of 
investigation  to  provide  a  basis  for  their  uplift?'  To  which  I 
would  like  to  add  that  from  my  viewpoint  the  only  'uplift'  that 
is  needed  is  to  'uplift'  from  the  back  of  agriculture  the  trusts, 
combinations  and  special  privilege  interests  that  uniformly  op- 
pose and  defeat  the  equitable,  reasonable  and  just  demands  of 
the  Grange.  If  anybody  really  wants  to  give  the  farmers  an 
'uplift,'  let  him  get  his  shoulder  under  the  National  Grange  de- 
mands and  give  a  mighty  'h'ist.' 

"Our  agriculture  is  progressing  and  uplifting,  but  the  inspira- 
tion has  come  from  within  rather  than  from  without,  and  the 
Order  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry  has  had  a  glorious  part  in  every 
movement  for  agricultural  progress  during  the  last  forty-two 
years.    The  Grange,  in  all  its  branches,  is  a  Country  Life  Com- 


n.  j.  bachelder's  administration,  1908- 1909    257 

mission  that  carries  its  authority  under  its  own  hat,  and  reahzes 
the  actual  conditions  that  exist  more  £u!!y  than  anyone  else.  If 
wrongs  exist  and  injustice  is  done  the  farmers,  no  one  knows  it 
any  better  than  they  do,  and  no  one  has  a  more  direct  or  correct 
viewpoint." 

The  Worthy  Treasurer  reported  the  total  resources 
of  the  National  Grange  as  $111,677.47,  a  net  gain  for 
the  year  of  $8,756.03. 

The  Worthy  Secretary  reported  302  new  Granges 
organized  and  51  dormant  Granges  reorganized. 
The  Worthy  Master  declared  the  Grange  in  open  ses- 
sion to  hear  Hon.  Gifford  Pinchot,  chief  of  the  United 
States  forest  service.  The  Worthy  Master  introduced 
Mr.  Pinchot,  who  complimented  the  Grange  and  gave 
a  brief  yet  comprehensive  address  on  the  conservation 
of  our  natural  resources,  and  pointed  out  the  work 
which  the  conservation  commission,  of  which  he  was 
chairman,  was  trying  to  do,  and  the  reasons  why  it 
was  needed.  At  2 130  President  Roosevelt  received 
the  National  Grange  and  all  visiting  members  in  the 
East  Room  of  the  White  House. 

At  10  A.  M.,  November  13,  O.  H.  Kelley  and 
Miss  Carrie  A.  Hall  were  escorted  to  the  hall.  The 
Worthy  Master  then  introduced  Mr.  Kelley  to  the  Na- 
tional Grange.  He  was  enthusiastically  greeted  and 
spoke  briefly,  congratulating  the  Grange  on  the  high 
position  it  held,  saying:  "The  glory  is  yours;  the 
pleasure  mine."  Miss  Hall  was  then  introduced  and 
gracefully  acknowledged  the  introduction. 

The  Grange  then  took  a  recess,  when  all  present  had 
the  pleasure  and  honor  of  meeting  these  two  dis- 
tinguished persons.  This  was  the  last  time  either  Mr. 
Kelley  or  Miss  Hall  ever  attended  a  session  of  the 
National  Grange. 

After  the  recess  delegates  from  the  Agricultural  Col- 
leges and  Experiment  Stations  Association  were  pres- 
ent.    The  Worthy  Master  introduced  President  J.  L. 


258  PATRONS  OF    HUSBANDRY 

Snyder  of  the  Michigan  Agricultural  College,  who  ad- 
dressed the  Grange  and  brought  greetings  from  their 
association. 

Later  in  the  day  the  Commission  on  Country  Life  was 
called  to  the  stage.  The  National  Master  then  introduced 
Dr.  L.  H.  Bailey,  chairman  of  the  commission,  who  ad- 
dressed the  Grange,  explained  the  object  of  the  commis- 
sion, and  asked  for  suggestions  from  the  representatives  of 
the  different  states,  and  many  valuable  ideas  were  ad- 
vanced. 

C.  O.  Raine  of  Missouri  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Executive  Committee  for  the  term  of  three  years. 

The  forty-third  annual  session  of  the  National  Grange 
met  in  Des  Moines,  la.,  November  10  to  18,  1909. 
All  the  officers  except  the  Lady  Assistant  Steward 
were  present,  and  twenty-seven  states  were  represented 
by  the  same  delegates  as  at  last  session,  except  the 
following:  California,  E.  T.  Pettit;  Delaware,  S.  H. 
and  Mrs.  Messick;  Michigan,  N.  P.  and  Mrs.  Hull; 
Minnesota,  Sarah  G.  and  Mr.  Baird ;  Ohio,  T.  C.  and 
Mrs.  Laylin;  Pennsylvania,  W.  T.  and  Mrs.  Creasy; 
South  Dakota,  C.  B.  and  Mrs.  Hoyt;  Vermont,  C.  F. 
and  Mrs.  Smith.  South  Dakota  was  represented  at 
this  session  for  the  first  time. 

The  Worthy  Master,  in  his  "annual  address,"  dis- 
cussed a  wide  range  of  subjects,  all  of  which  were  sub- 
sequently indorsed  by  the  body.  On  "Condition  of 
the  Order,"  he  said : 

"The  condition  of  the  Order  in  the  country  is  better  than  at 
any  time  since  its  establishment.  A  larger  number  of  Granges 
has  been  organized  than  in  any  year  for  thirty-five  years,  and 
a  larger  increase  of  membership  made  during  the  past  year  than 
in  any  year  since  1878.  The  influence  of  the  organization  in  pub- 
lic affairs  can  only  be  estimated,  but  there  is  evidence  that  it  was 
never  greater  than  today.  The  net  increase  in  membership  dur- 
ing the  year  has  been  about  eight  per  cent,  showing  a  net  gain 
in  every  state  except  two,  and  laws  have  been  enacted  in  all  the 
Grange  states  through  its  influence." 


n.  j.  bachelder's  administration.  1908-1909    259 

Of  the  National  Grange  Official  Organ  he  said: 

"The  Executive  Committee  of  the  National  Grange  was  not 
satisfied  with  the  management  of  the  National  Grange  Official 
Organ,  and  May  1  canceled  the  agreement  with  the  publishing 
company  in  Philadelphia  and  transferred  the  publication  of  the 
paper  to  Concord,  N.  H.  It  has  been  issued  from  Concord,  regu- 
larly and  promptly,  since  May  1,  and  seems  to  meet  the  approval 
of  the  members  throughout  the  country.  I  have  taken  the 
authority  to  appoint  a  committee  upon  the  paper  that  will  present 
facts  in  regard  to  the  paper  and  make  recommendations  in  regard 
to  its  future.  I  urge  careful  consideration  of  the  report  made  by 
this  committee." 

He  announced  the  platform  of  the  Grange  upon  Na- 
tional legislation  as  follows: 

"Federal  appropriation  for  highway  improvement;  establish- 
ment of  rural  and  general  parcel  post;  establishment  of 
postal  savings  banks;  election  of  United  States  Senators 
by  direct  vote;  appointment  of  a  permanent  non-partisan  tariff 
commission;  defeat  of  ship-subsidy  legislation;  retaining  or 
strengthening  the  present  oleomargarine  law;  liberal  appropria- 
tions for  farm  schools;  opposing  agreements  between  organized 
capital  and  organized  labor  in  legislative  matters  to  the  detri- 
ment of  the  farmers." 

The  Worthy  Treasurer  reported  the  total  resources 
of  the  Grange  as  $115,821.29. 

The  Secretary  reported  431  new  Granges  organized 
and  56  dormant  Granges  reorganized.  This  was  the 
largest  number  organized  in  any  one  year  since  1878. 

The  Right  Hon.  Sir  Horace  Plunkett,  First  Commis- 
sioner of  Agriculture  for  Ireland,  addressed  the 
Grange.  The  whole  of  his  splendid  address  was  pub- 
lished in  the  Journal  of  the  session.     He  said  in  part: 

"I  have  been  honored  with  an  invitation  to  contribute  to  your 
discussion  some  account  of  an  Irish  movement,  resembling  in  its 
scope,  and  to  some  degree  also  in  its  methods,  the  economic, 
social  and  (using  the  term  in  a  nonpartisan  sense)  political 
movement  known  as  the  National  Grange.  While  my  subject  is 
Irish,  I  shall  not  forget  that  my  audience  is  American,  and  that 
the  occasion  is  one  for  the  discussion  of  questions  affecting  the 
agricultural  population  of  the  United  States.  .  .  . 


26o  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

"I  have  now  put  before  you  to  the  best  of  my  ability  a  com- 
prehensive statement  of  the  origin  and  scope,  aim  and  achieve- 
ments up  to  the  present  time  of  what  I  have  called  Ireland's 
National  Grange,  a  movement,  you  will  have  observed,  with  prac- 
tically the  same  aims  as  its  American  counterpart.  You  will  also 
have  noted  one  marked  difference  in  the  Order  in  which  the 
various  aims  are  pursued  in  the  two  bodies.  We,  in  Ireland, 
believe  that  the  reorganization  of  the  business  methods  of  farm- 
ers is  by  far  the  best  foundation  upon  which  to  build  up  a  better 
husbandry  and  a  better  social  and  domestic  life  on  our  farm  lands. 
And  as  a  sympathetic  foreign  observer,  I  am  convinced  that  a 
similar  procedure  would  give  to  your  great  organization  the 
influence  over  the  agricultural  class  of  the  United  States,  lo 
which,  by  your  principles,  by  your  aims  and  by  your  achievements, 
you  have  every  right  to  aspire.  Your  movement  is  led  by  ideal- 
ists. So  also  is  ours.  But  whatever  your  ultimate  aims  may  be, 
the  economic  factor  will  predominate.  And  I  am  convinced  that 
the  reason  why  the  National  Grange  has  failed  to  embrace  the 
most  progressive  farmers  in  every  state  in  the  Union  is  that  in 
the  pursuit  of  its  higher  aims  it  has  failed  to  meet  the  needs  of 
an  industry  which  has  fallen  behind  in  its  competition  with  other 
interests.  Hence,  in  the  old,  settled  communities,  where  an  im- 
proved social  life  was  the  main  requirement,  you  seem  to  be 
permanently  established,  while  in  the  newer  states,  where  of 
necessity  the  economic  factor  must  predominate,  you  do  not  seem 
to  have  the  same  hold  upon  the  rural  community.  It  may  be  that, 
like  many  another  institution  founded  in  other  days,  you  may 
have  to  reshape  your  policy.  If  this  be  so,  I  hope  you  will  not 
hesitate  to  move  with  the  times,  for  in  my  judgment  there  is  no 
agency  better  fitted  to  restore  to  its  former  place  of  dignity  in 
the  people's  life  the  primary,  indeed  the  only  necessary  industry, 
the  oldest,  the  most  honorable  of  human  occupations." 

Hon.  John  Hamilton,  Institute  Specialist,  represent- 
ing the  Department  of  Agriculture,  in  a  pleasing  and 
thoughtful  address,  presented  the  subject  of  "Agricul- 
tural Extension."    In  his  opening  paragraph  he  said  : 

"Just  one  year  ago,  the  Overseer  of  the  National  Grange,  T.  C. 
Atkeson,  in  an  address  before  a  joint  meeting  of  the  Grange  and 
the  Association  of  American  Agricultural  Colleges  and  Experi- 
ment Stations,  in  referring  to  the  distinctive  purposes  of  the 
organizations,  spoke  of  the  colleges  as  having  stood  specifically 
for  higher  education  in  agriculture,  and  that  the  body  that  he 
represented,  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  was  organized  for  the 


n.  j.  bachelder's  administration,  1908- 1909    261 

purpose  of  aiding  the  common,  everyday  farmer.  It  is  because 
of  your  attitude  in  this  respect  that  I  am  here  today  as  the  rep- 
resentative of  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  which  has  been 
organized  for  a  purpose  similar  to  yours.  That  department  stands, 
first,  for  securing  the  latest  and  most  reliable  information  of 
value  in  the  operations  of  the  farm ;  next  to  this  for  the  dissemi- 
nation of  this  information  to  the  millions  of  agricultural  people 
who  need  it,  and  then  for  the  incorporation  of  the  truths  discov- 
ered into  the  practice  of  their  everyday  life.  No  higher  service 
to  mankind  can  be  rendered  by  any  man  or  organization  of  men 
than  to  extend  a  helping  hand  to  those  who  are  toiling  for  daily 
bread,  who  are  struggling  for  a  place  for  themselves  and  their 
children  in  the  civilization  of  their  time.  You  as  individuals  and 
as  an  organization  have  stood  for  this  in  the  past,  and  there  is 
every  assurance  that  you  will  continue  to  stand  for  aiding  the 
common  man  in  all  time  to  come." 

Later  in  the  session  the  following  resolution  was 
adopted : 

"That  Congress  should  provide  by  liberal  appropriations  for 
the  support  of  agricultural  extension  departments  in  the  several 
colleges  of  agriculture  of  the  several  states,  by  giving  to  each 
state  for  the  use  of  the  agricultural  extension  department  of  its 
College  of  Agriculture  annually  a  liberal  sum  and  an  additional 
sum  equal  to  the  amount  appropriated  by  the  State  Legislature 
for  the  same  purpose,  and  to  be  expended  under  the  same 
authority,  not  to  exceed  one  cent  per  capita  of  population  as 
given  in  the  preceding  census  of  the  United  States." 

The  Grange  declared  "that  we  are  unalterably  op- 
posed to  any  legislation  by  Congress  looking  to  the 
establishment  of  a  great  centralized  bank."  The  Grange 
also  condemned  intercollegiate  football  and  baseball  in 
agricultural  colleges ;  favored  the  passage  of  an  income 
tax  law;  favored  the  enactment  of  a  law  prohibiting 
any  railroad  company  from  acquiring  stock  in  a  com- 
peting line ;  favored  government  supervision  of  express 
companies;  stated  that  it  was  the  positive  conviction  of 
the  National  Grange  that  inheritance  taxes  should  be  re- 
served wholly  for  the  use  of  the  several  states;  and 
adopted  many  other  resolutions  relating  to  the  Grange 
purposes  and  policies. 

The  Committee  on  Taxation  made  the  fullest  and 
most  exhaustive  report  ever  made  upon  that  subject, 


262  PATRONS  OF  HUSBANDRY 

and  after  discussing  many  phases  of  the  intricate  ques- 
tion of  taxation,  historically  and  economically,  it  laid 
down  the  following  summary,  which  was  approved  as 
the  Grange  position  upon  taxation  at  that  time : 

"1.  Since  taxation  is  necessary  for  the  enforcement  of  laws 
for  the  protection  of  property,  individual  or  corporate,  therefore 
no  property,  either  real  or  personal,  which  is  protected  by  law, 
should  be  exempt  from  taxation,  except  such  property  as  is 
specifically  exempt  by  the  state  Constitution. 

"2.  In  order  to  secure  equality  in  the  distribution  of  the  burdens 
of  government,  if  personal  property  is  to  be  exempt  from  taxa- 
tion on  account  of  the  indebtedness  of  the  owner  thereof,  then 
real  estate  should  be  entitled  to  the  same  exemption. 

"3.  In  the  case  of  mortgages,  'by  far  the  wisest  system  is  to 
tax  the  mortgages  on  the  amount  of  the  mortgage  and  the  mort- 
gagor on  the  value  of  the  property  minus  the  mortgage,'  the 
mortgage  to  be  considered  as  real  estate  and  not  as  personal 
property  and  taxed  in  the  locality  where  the  mortgaged  property 
lies. 

"4.  There  should  be  no  exemption  of  any  species  of  property, 
either  real  or  personal,  from  taxation  for  local  purposes,  except 
such  as  is  exempt  by  the  Constitution. 

"5.  If  state  and  local  revenues  are  to  be  raised  from  separate 
sources,  the  state  revenues  should  be  raised  from  corporation 
charter  fees,  licenses,  inheritance  taxes  and  other  indirect  taxes. 

"6.  All  corporation  real  estate  and  personal  property  to  be 
taxed  for  local  purposes,  same  as  the  same  kind  of  property  is 
taxed  when  owned  by  individuals. 

"7.  The  local  tax  of  transportation  property  to  be  levied  on  a 
valuation  equal  to  the  market  value  of  the  capital  stock  plus  the 
market  value  of  the  bonded  debt.  Each  taxation  unit  to  receive 
such  part  of  the  tax  as  the  mileage  of  the  corporation  in  said 
unit  is  to  the  total  mileage. 

"8.  Every  possible  precaution  should  be  taken  to  secure 
equality  of  assessment  between  the  individuals  and  between 
assessment  districts. 

"9.  We  favor  the  denial  of  the  right  of  action  to  the  holders 
of  notes,  bonds,  etc.,  which  have  not  been  listed  for  taxation. 

"10.  No  city  shall  be  permitted  to  make  a  separate  assessment 
and  all  property  everywhere  shall  be  uniformly  assessed  at  its 
fair  cash  value. 

"11.  We  favor  the  enactment  of  a  law  that  will  secure  a  fair 
and  equitable  taxation  of  all  bank  property,  whether  personal  or 
real,  upon  the  basis  that  other  property  is  taxed,  and  we  believe 


n.  j.  bachelder's  administration,  1908- 1909    263 

the  market  value  of  the  capital  stock,  plus  the  real  estate,  would 
be  the  fairest  and  most  easily  ascertained  method  of  valuation." 

With  renewed  zeal  for  the  Grange  and  its  great 
humanitarian  work  and  purposes,  the  National  Grange 
closed  in  form  and  the  membership  returned  to  their 
respective  states  to  take  up  more  aggressively  than 
ever  the  work  of  another  year. 


CHAPTER    XXIV 

N.  J.  Bachelder's  Administration — Third  Term,  Two 

Years,  1910-1911 — Forty-Fourth  and  Forty-Fifth 

Sessions  of  the  National  Grange 

The  forty-fourth  annual  session  of  the  National 
Grange  met  in  the  Casino  Hall,  Atlantic  City,  New  Jer- 
sey, November  16  to  25,  1910.  All  the  officers  elected 
the  year  before  were  present : 

Master — N.  J.  Bachelder,  New  Hampshire. 
Overseer — T.  C.  Atkeson,  West  Virginia. 
Lecturer — Oliver  Wilson,  Illinois. 
Steward — C.  D.  Richardson,  Massachusetts. 
Assistant  Steward — L.  H.  Healey,  Connecticut. 
Chaplain — C.  F.  Smith,  Vermont. 
Treasurer — Mrs.  E.  S.  McDowell,  Massachusetts. 
Secretary — C.  M.  Freeman,  Ohio. 
Gatekeeper — D.  C.  Mullen,  Idaho. 
Ceres — Mrs.  Elizabeth  H.  Paterson,  Maryland. 
Pomona — Mrs.  Grace  Hull,  Michigan. 
Flora — Mrs.  Ida  Judson,  Iowa. 

Lady  Assistant  Steward — Mrs.  Mary  A.  Smith,  Vermont. 
Executive  Committee — F.  N.  Godfrey,  New  York;  C.  O.  Raine, 
Missouri;  S.  H.  Messick,  Delaware. 

The  following  28  states  were  represented:  Cali- 
fornia, E.  T.  Pettit;  Colorado,  Jno.  and  Mrs.  Morris; 
Connecticut,  L.  H.  and  Mrs.  Healey;  Delaware,  S.  H. 
and  Mrs.  Messick;  Idaho,  D.  C.  Mullen;  Illinois, 
Robert  and  Mrs.  Eaton;  Indiana,  Aaron  and  Mrs. 
Jones ;  Iowa,  A.  B.  and  Mrs.  Judson ;  Kansas,  George 
and  Mrs.  Black;  Kentucky,  F.  P.  and  Mrs.  Wolcott; 
Maine,  C.  S.  and  Mrs.  Stetson;  Maryland,  H.  J.  and 
Mrs.  Patterson;  Massachusetts,  C.  M.  and  Mrs.  Gard- 
ner; Michigan,  N.  P.  and  Mrs.  Hull;  Minnesota,  Sarah 
G.  and  Mr.  Baird;  Missouri,  C.  O.  and  Mrs.  Raine; 
New  Hampshire,  Richard  and  Mrs.  Pattee;  New  Jer- 

264 


n.  j.  bachelder's  administration,  1910-1911     265 

sey,  Geo.  W.  F.  and  Mrs.  Gaunt;  New  York,  F.  N.  and 
Mrs.  Godfrey;  Ohio,  T.  C.  and  Mrs.  Laylin;  Oregon, 
C.  E.  and  Mrs.  Spence;  Pennsylvania,  W.  T.  and  Mrs. 
Creasy;  Rhode  Island,  F.  E.  and  Mrs.  Marchant; 
South  Dakota,  Charles  and  Mrs.  Hoyt;  Vermont,  C.  F. 
and  Mrs.  Smith;  Washington,  C.  B.  and  Mrs.  Kegley; 
Wisconsin,  Geo.  R.  and  Mrs.  Schaefer;  West  Virginia, 
T.  C.  and  Mrs.  Atkeson. 

The  Worthy  Master  discussed  many  subjects  of 
general  interest.     On  the  subject  of  the  tariff,  he  said : 

"The  position  taken  by  the  National  Grange  at  its  forty-third 
annual  session  in  regard  to  the  tariff  act  of  1909,  which  was  de- 
clared to  be  unjust  and  unfair  to  the  farmers,  has  been  indorsed 
by  a  large  majority  of  the  people,  as  shown  by  the  primary  elec- 
tions in  all  sections  of  the  country.  The  defeat  or  retirement  of 
more  than  fifty  Senators  and  Representatives  who  were  largely 
responsible  for  the  enactment  of  the  unsatisfactory  Payne- Aldrich 
law  is  proof  that  public  sentiment  demands  a  genuine  revision  of 
the  tariff,  based  on  a  careful  investigation  by  a  nonpartisan  com- 
mission, and  that  the  people  will  refuse  to  return  to  Congress 
the  men  who  fail  to  carry  out  the  wishes  of  their  constituents. 

"An  encouraging  feature  of  the  movement  for  a  more  equitable 
tariff  is  that  it  is  no  longer  purely  a  party  question,  as  loyal 
Republicans  are  advocating  tariff  revision,  while  some  of  those 
classed  as  Democrats  favor  the  present  law.  At  no  time  in  our 
history  has  there  been  greater  independence  of  party  lines,  par- 
ticularly among  the  farmers,  and  this  condition  should  make  it 
easier  to  secure  tariff  legislation  in  the  interest  of  the  people. 

"In  obedience  to  the  demand  of  the  country,  Congress  at  its 
recent  session  enacted  a  law  providing  for  the  establishment  of  a 
postal  savings  bank  system,  and  plans  are  now  being  made  for 
opening  these  banks  in  various  sections  of  the  country.  The 
enactment  of  this  legislation  was  brought  about  largely  through 
the  efforts  of  the  Grange,  and  is  another  proof  of  the  ability  of 
the  organized  farmers  to  secure  favorable  action  by  Congress 
on  any  wise  measure  that  they  may  advocate,  and  is  an  encour- 
agement to  us  in  our  work  for  the  other  important  legislative 
policies  indorsed  by  the  Grange. 

"The  movement  for  a  general  parcels  post  law  has  been  vig- 
orously urged  during  the  past  year,  and  the  influence  of  the 
members  of  the  Grange  has  been  brought  to  bear  on  the  mem- 
bers of  Congress  in  favor  of  action  on  bills  for  this  purpose. 
At  hearings  on  these  bills  the  National  Grange  was  represented 


266  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

by  the  Legislative  Committee,  Brother  T.  C.  Atkeson  making  the 
principal  address,  in  which  he  stated  the  attitude  of  the  Grange, 
and  replied  to  objections  made  by  the  opponents  of  the  parcels 
post.  His  address  made  it  clear  that  the  farmers  of  the  country 
are  unanimously  in  favor  of  this  legislation,  and  that  they  regard 
opposition  to  it  as  evidence  of  hostility  to  the  public  interests. 
Action  was  taken  several  months  before  election  to  have  all  the 
local  Granges  advise  the  various  candidates  for  Congress  from 
their  districts  as  to  their  position  on  this  and  other  Grange 
policies,  and  I  am  confident  that  the  members  of  the  newly  elected 
house  will  have  more  regard  for  the  wishes  of  their  constituents 
and  will  carry  out  the  people's  will  in  this  matter. 

"The  action  of  the  National  Grange  recording  its  opposition 
to  the  scheme  for  a  great  central  bank  should  not  be  construed 
as  meaning  that  the  farmers  of  the  country  are  entirely  satisfied 
with  our  present  bank  and  currency  laws.  These  laws  are  un- 
doubtedly in  need  of  amendments  that  will  tend  to  do  away  with 
the  periodical  financial  panics,  which  injure  the  legitimate  indus- 
tries of  the  country.  In  such  countries  as  France,  Germany, 
Great  Britain  and  Canada  money  stringencies,  under  which  pre- 
miums are  paid  for  the  use  of  currency,  are  unknown,  even  in 
times  of  business  depression.  It  should  be  possible  for  this  great 
and  wealthy  country  to  have  a  banking  and  currency  system  equal 
to  the  best  in  the  world,  and  I  am  sure  that  the  farmers  will  give 
their  support  to  legislation  creating  a  system,  provided  it  is  free 
from  all  taint  of  monopoly." 

Other  important  matters  reviewed  were  agricultural 
extension,  election  of  United  States  Senators  by  the 
people,  the  high  cost  of  living,  and  the  income  tax 
amendment. 

The  Worthy  Treasurer  reported  total  resources  as 
$118,825.83. 

The  Worthy  Secretary  reported  that  409  new 
Granges  had  been  organized  and  45  dormant  ones  re- 
organized during  the  year. 

The  Committee  on  "Good  of  the  Order"  made  the 
following  report,  which  was  adopted : 

"New  questions  and  problems  affecting  the  interests  and  rights 
of  farmers  are  constantly  arising,  and  the  Grange  thought  and 
thinkers  should  not  hesitate  to  tackle  them  as  they  rise,  in  a  broad, 
statesmanlike  manner.  The  founders  of  the  Grange  built  upon 
the  solid  rock,  and   the  superstructure    since   reared  upon  that 


n.  j.  bachelder's  administration,  1910-1911     267 

foundation  by  great  and  wise  leaders  is  fortunately  broad  enough 
to  cover  our  entire  nation  and  to  meet  every  kind  of  problem  or 
condition  that  may  confront  us.  The  National  Grange  is  the 
highest  law-making  body  of  the  Order,  and  its  grasp  of  agricul- 
tural and  economic  problems  should  be  nation-wide.  It  cannot 
deal  with  local  or  sectional  questions. 

"State  Granges  must  deal  with  state-wide  problems.  In  New 
Hampshire  it  may  be  summer  boarders,  and  in  Florida  it  may  be 
winter  resorts.  In  the  South  it  is  cotton;  in  New  York  it  may 
be  fruit  growing  or  dairying ;  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  one  thing, 
and  on  the  Pacific  slope  another;  in  Kansas  grasshoppers,  and 
in  Texas  cotton  boll  weevil.  Each  state  must  deal  with  its  own 
problems  in  its  own  way.  But  that  is  not  all;  the  counties,  as 
units  in  the  several  states,  have  problems  peculiar  to  themselves, 
and  with  these  the  Pomona  Granges  must  grapple,  and,  within 
still  smaller  limits,  the  Subordinate  Grange  becomes  the  unit  of 
influence.  It  is  the  business  of  the  National  Grange  to  build  up 
and  strengthen  all  these  units  of  activity. 

"If  the  Grange  is  to  prosper  in  New  England  it  must  do  the 
things  the  farmers  there  want  done.  If  the  states  of  the  far 
West  are  to  continue  to  grow,  they  must  be  active  in  solving  the 
economic  problems  that  are  vital  to  the  Pacific  slope.  If  the 
Grange  is  ever  to  recover  its  lost  power,  influence  and  leadership 
in  the  central  West,  it  must  put  its  hand  to  the  plow  and  its  brain 
to  work  upon  the  things  that  are  nearest  to  the  heart  of  the 
dwellers  among  the  fertile  fields  of  the  greatest  agricultural 
valley  in  the  world.  Among  the  many  things  the  Grange  needs 
to  impress  upon  its  membership  everywhere,  we  name  the  fol- 
lowing: 

"1.  Regular  attendance  upon  all  meetings  of  the  Grange  and 
the  cheerful  performance  of  every  duty,  and  a  wholesome  re- 
spect for  all  officers  and  decisions  of  the  Grange  of  which  they 
are  legal  members. 

"2.  Whether  in  office  or  in  the  ranks,  a  sincere  respect  for  the 
rights  of  others,  and  a  ready  recognition  of  the  truism  that  dif- 
ference of  opinion  is  no  crime. 

"3.  The  Grange  in  the  past  has  accomplished  much  through 
hard  work  and  untiring  efforts  of  those  who  have  been  chosen 
our  leaders,  and  the  silent  work  of  the  faithful  few  to  be  found 
in  every  Subordinate  Grange.  If  this  work  is  to  be  continued 
and  carried  to  still  greater  and  grander  results  it  will  only  be  by 
the  united  efforts  of  those  who  are  faithful  to  their  obligations, 
under  whatever  circumstances  they  are  placed. 

"4.  Any  member  of  the  Order  who  tries  to  delittle  or  discredit 
the  work  of  another,  or  tries  in  any  way  to  injure  the  good  name 


268  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

or  reputation  of  a  brother  or  sister,  violates  the  obligations  they 
have  taken  and  are  not  worthy  the  name  of  Patron  of  Husbandry. 

"5.  The  most  vital  need  of  the  farmers  in  this  country  is  bet- 
ter business  methods,  and  if  the  Grange  is  to  lead  the  farmers,  it 
must  devise  and  promulgate  some  workable  plan  for  the  applica- 
tion of  better  business  methods  to  agriculture. 

"6.  The  Grange  should  devise  some  plan  of  making  the  farm- 
ers more  potential  in  the  political  affairs  of  the  country.  Con- 
sidering their  numbers  and  the  importance  of  their  occupation 
to  the  welfare  of  mankind,  the  farmers  are  woefully  impotent  in 
directing  the  affairs  of  government.  The  trend  of  legislation 
since  the  founding  of  the  nation  has  been  toward  the  building 
of  cities  and  to  the  detriment  of  the  country,  which  now  should 
be  remedied. 

"7.  The  Grange  should  become  more  active  in  promoting  edu- 
cational facilities  adapted  to  country  conditions,  as  distinct  from 
the  town  and  city-made  systems  of  education. 

"8.  It  must  get  into  the  lives  of  rural  people,  grasp  the  real 
problems  of  the  open  country  and  demonstrate  its  capacity  for 
efficient  service  if  it  would  deserve  and  secure  the  support  of 
the  farmers  of  the  country. 

"9.  It  cannot  win  by  becoming  a  social  club  or  a  literary  so- 
ciety, but  must  get  into  virile  sympathy  with  the  real  producing 
farmers,  who  earn  their  bread  by  the  sweat  of  their  faces.  Pass- 
ing resolutions  only  will  not  satisfy  the  people,  who  feel  that  there 
is  a  great  robber  horde  between  the  slaving  producers  and  the 
hungry  consumers. 

"10.  The  Grange  must  work  out  the  great  principle  of  co- 
operation and  present  it  to  the  farmers  in  some  workable  form 
by  which  they  may  secure  for  themselves  and  their  families  a 
larger  share  of  what  the  harvest  yields. 

"11.  The  Grange  should  be  a  bureau  of  rural  economic  re- 
search, and  thereby  assume  its  rightful  place  as  leader  in  rural 
economics. 

"12.  The  Grange  should  avail  itself  of  the  best  thought  of  the 
age  in  solving  the  production  and  distribution  problems,  which 
this  wonderful  commercial  age  is  bringing  upon  us,  and  exert  a 
wholesome  influence  upon  the  development  of  social  country  life. 

"13.  The  relation  between  the  cost  of  production  of  food  and 
its  cost  to  the  consumer  should  be  accurately  determined  by  the 
Grange  and  truthfully  placed  before  the  producers  and  consumers. 

"14.  The  changes  in  the  standard  and  cost  of  living,  and  in 
the  economy,  solvency  and  stability  of  rural  communities  should 
receive  careful  attention. 


n.  J.  bachelder's  administration,  1910-1911    269 

"15.  The  economic  interdependence  of  the  agricultural  pro- 
ducer and  the  urban  consumer,  and  the  extent  and  incidence  of 
middle  profits  in  the  distribution  of  agricultural  produce,  should 
receive  illumination. 

"16.  How  far  agricultural  and  rural  employment  can  relieve 
the  problems  of  city  unemployment  and  assist  the  work  of  social 
reclamation  needs  to  be  determined. 

"The  greatest  good  of  the  Order  must  result  from  making  the 
Grange  of  the  greatest  possible  service  to  the  real,  living,  work- 
ing farmers  of  the  country.  It  has  been  a  motor  force  in  many 
helpful  movements,  and  in  many  ways  has  organized  and  incor- 
porated the  best  thought  of  the  most  intelligent  farmers  about 
means  for  rural  advancement.  It  has  been  an  integral  part  of, 
and  a  most  potent  factor  in,  the  expansion  of  American  farm 
life;  and  to  continue  to  meet  its  great  responsibilities,  it  must 
continue  to  vitalize  and  energize  the  best  farmer  thinking  of 
the  country.  It  must  be  conservatively  progressive,  with  sound 
thinking  safely  guiding  every  progressive  step  it  takes.  It  should 
seek  rather  than  shun  responsibility,  and  invite  the  whole  world 
to  witness  how  sanely  and  firmly  it  meets  those  responsibilities. 
In  work  well  done  must  forever  be  the  greatest  good  of  the 
Order." 

One  of  the  most  important  matters  that  came  before 
this  session  was  the  situation  confronting  the 
"Official  Organ."  The  Worthy  Master  said  in  regard 
to  it: 

"The  National  Grange  Official  Organ,  which  began  publica- 
tion November  1,  1907,  was  financed  by  private  parties  to  May  1, 
1910,  involving  the  National  Grange  in  no  expense  beyond  the 
payment  of  a  small  price  for  preparing  the  Lecturer's  page  and 
sending  the  paper  to  charter  members  of  the  new  Granges.  On 
the  above  mentioned  date  the  publishers  of  the  paper,  having 
completed  their  contract  with  the  Executive  Committee,  did  not 
wish  to  renew  under  the  proposition  made  by  the  National 
Grange,  and  paid  over  to  the  Executive  Committee  the  entire 
amount  received  for  unfilled  subscriptions.  An  arrangement  was 
made  with  a  publishing  house  to  continue  the  paper,  financed  by 
the  National  Grange,  and  you  will  be  called  upon  at  this  session 
to  determine  what  course  shall  be  taken  in  the  future  in  regard 
to  the  paper." 

A  special  committee  was  appointed  to  consider  this 
matter,  which  made  the  following  report,  which  was 
adopted : 


2JO  PATRONS  OF    lll'SHANDRY 

"The  Committee  on  National  Grange  Official  Organ  has  inves- 
tigated and  considered  the  subject  submitted  to  US  very  carefully, 
has  given  hearing  to  parties  interested,  and  reports  the  following 
recommendations  to  the  National  Grange: 

"First.  We  recommend  that  the  National  Grange  Official  Organ 
be  discontinued  with  the  last  issue  of  December,   L910. 

"Second.  That  the  National  Grange  establish  The  National 
Grange  Bulletin,  to  be  owned,  controlled  and  published  by  the 
National  Grange, 

"Third.  We  recommend  that  the  administration  of  the  paper 
shall  be  vested  in  a  board  of  management  consisting  of  the 
National  Lecturer,  National  Overseer,  and  Chairman  of  the 
Executive  Committee  of  the  National  Grange. 

"Fourth.  That  the  paper  shall  be  conducted  as  an  exclusively 
Grange  publication  solely  for  extending  the  policies  of  the  Na- 
tional Change  as  widely  as  possible,  and  it  shall  not  enter  the 
held  of  agricultural  or  news  publications,  nor  be  permitted  to 
depart  from  its  sphere  as  a  National  Grange  publication.  It 
shall  especially  promote  the  educational  phases  of  OUT  Order,  shall 
disseminate  information  relative  to  legislation  in  which  the 
Grange  is  interested,  and  shall  seek  in  every  way  to  aid  in 
extending    Grange    information    and    influence. 

"Fifth.  That  the  paper  shall  be  issued  monthly,  beginning 
with  the  month  of  January,  1911. 

"Sixth.  That  the  net  expense  to  the  National  Grange  for 
issuing  such  a  publication  for  twelve  months  shall  not  exceed 
three  thousand  dollars." 

With  only  slight  modification  of  this  plan  the  paper 
has  ever  since  boon  successfully  conducted. 

A  new  and  more  liberal  policy  of  Grange  extension 
was  adopted,  providing"  for  the  expenditure  of  all  the 
funds  and  all  the  income  above  $100,000. 

The  Grange  position  on  railway  freight  rate  increase 
was  stated  as  follows: 

"Whereas,  The  farmers  are  the  largest  shippers  of  freight  over 
our  railways,  and  any  increase  in  freight  rates  is  in  the  last 
analysis  chiefly  paid  by  them;  and 

"Whereas,  The  railroads  are  now  demanding  the  right  to 
charge  higher  freight  and  passenger  rates,  for  which  we  believe 
there  is  no  justification;  therefore 

"Resolved,  That  the  National  Grange  favors  the  strict  regu- 
lation by  the  federal  government  of  all  railroads  engaged  in 
interstate  commerce,  and  urge  that  the  Interstate  Commerce  Com- 


I     271 

.essary  in  order  to  pay 

toed,  7?  at  we  f  - 

:    ♦.hi 

F.  .\".  Gc     -  .  re-elected  a  11 

The 
met  at  Cc  er  15-24,   191 :. 

the  ' 

Same 

a    I  Mi      llalcne, 

1 

annual 
jeen 
! 
states  after-  lancy.    He 

"The   f  k  conditior         -  :     o-opera* 

-        to  utilize  the  desire    .:'  die  farmers   :.- 

'/.-■.-y---,'-'-    v\   ■-.   -":■-.'-.   -.    :';-*'---    r-    ■-/"':■  \-':.t~.':\      'J-.  ;- 
should  be  exercised  by  the  members  of  the  Grange  in  giv- 

:  these  associations,  and  the  char- 
nancial  standir.: 

:'u!"y  '  -  -• 

farm   tc  the  cily  ar.  /  to  the  farm,  bttt 

oubtless  be  many  :'  unless  great  c<  -  sJcen 

...  .-    .  ■    .      . 

e  merr.'  Fa  few  promoters. 

an  by  a  Grant 

"The  popular  demand  for  the  en- 

*he  pec-  .ocated  by  the 

bill  pr-  methc 


272  PATRONS  OF    HUSBANDRY 

Currency  and  banking  reform  was  discussed  as  fol- 
lows: 

"The  question  of  so  amending  our  banking  and  currency  laws 
as  to  do  away  with  the  defects  and  dangers  of  our  present  sys- 
tem is  one  of  vital  importance  to  the  farmers,  since  the  financial 
panics  to  which  the  country  is  constantly  liable,  so  long  as  con- 
ditions remain  unchanged,  injure  the  farmers  more  than  any 
other  class.  I  appreciate  the  fact  that  there  are  wide  differences 
of  opinion  among  the  members  of  the  Grange  as  to  the  lines 
along  which  currency  reform  legislation  should  be  enacted,  but 
this  only  serves  to  emphasize  the  necessity  for  a  thorough  study 
and  discussion  of  all  phases  of  the  question,  so  that  an  agree- 
ment may  be  reached  as  to  the  policy  which  should  be  favored 
by  the  farmers. 

"While  we  are  unanimously  agreed  in  opposing  the  creation 
of  a  great  central  bank,  and  should  use  our  influence  to  prevent 
the  enactment  of  financial  legislation  that  would  tend  to  give 
certain  individuals  or  classes  special  privileges,  we  favor  a  bank- 
ing system  that  provides  for  the  effective  co-operation  of  all  the 
banks  of  the  country,  so  as  to  make  it  possible  for  the  stronger 
banks  to  aid  the  weaker  institutions  in  event  of  a  widespread 
financial  crisis.  We  should  also  be  ready  to  give  our  cordial 
assistance  to  an  honest,  practical  plan  for  remedying  present 
currency  conditions,  which  are  universally  admitted  to  be  danger- 
ous to  the  continued  prosperity  of  the  country.  The  subject 
should  be  studied  and  discussed  from  an  impartial,  nonpolitical 
standpoint,  and  action  should  be  taken  to  impress  on  our  Senators 
and  Representatives  the  importance  of  considering  the  farmers' 
interests  when  the  question  comes  up  for  action  by  Congress." 

In  view  of  subsequent  legislation  on  this  subject, 
the  position  taken  by  the  Grange  is  of  especial  sig- 
nificance. 

Probably  no  more  comprehensive  and  thoughtful 
address  has  ever  been  delivered  to  a  National  Grange 
session.  The  Worthy  Master  had  determined  not  to 
stand  for  re-election  and  in  conclusion  he  said : 

"My  term  of  office  as  Master  of  the  National  Grange,  with 
which  position  you  honored  me  six  years  ago,  expires  at  this 
session.  This  closes  a  period  of  twenty-eight  years  of  continu- 
ous service  as  an  official  of  the  New  Hampshire  State  Grange 
and  National  Grange.  During  this  entire  period  I  have  ear- 
nestly endeavored  to  advocate  the  principles,  promote  the  in- 


N.  j.  bachelder's  administration,  1910-1911     273 

terests  and  protect  the  good  name  of  this  the  greatest  and 
grandest  farmer's  organization  that  ever  existed  in  the  world. 
I  need  not  weary  you  with  a  recital  of  its  victories  and  achieve- 
ments, for  their  record  is  a  matter  of  history.  The  time  has 
now  arrived  when  I  must  be  relieved  from  further  official 
service  in  the  Grange.  It  is  with  feelings  of  personal  sadness 
that  I  make  this  decision,  for  it  necessarily  severs  many  associa- 
tions with  those  whom  I  have  labored  and  to  whose  loyal  efforts 
should  be  given  credit  for  the  great  success  of  the  organization. 
With  the  same  co-operation  in  the  future,  the  person  whom  you 
choose  as  my  successor  will  lead  the  Grange  to  greater  and 
grander  achievements  and  still  further  advance  its  influence  in 
the  promotion  of  all  the  interests  of  the  American  farmer  and  his 
family." 

After  a  service  of  eight  years  in  that  office,  the 
Worthy  Overseer,  T.  C.  Atkeson,  also  declined  to  stand 
for  re-election.     In  concluding  his  report,  he  said : 

"A  host  of  new  issues  are  coming  upon  us  which  the  farmers 
of  the  country,  as  well  as  every  other  class  of  our  citizenship, 
must  help  to  solve.  We  must  decide  whether  we  shall  serve  man 
or  mammon ;  whether  we  shall  elevate  the  dollar  and  debase 
democracy;  whether  the  government  shall  control  the  corpora- 
tions, or  the  corporations  control  the  government;  whether  the 
cost  of  distribution  shall  take  two-thirds  of  the  consumer's  dol- 
lar; whether  agriculture  shall  secure  a  square  deal  in  the  mad 
rush  to  appropriate  the  earnings  of  the  other  fellow;  and,  above 
all,  whether  the  Grange  shall  develop  and  discipline  a  safe  and 
sane  leadership  for  the  agricultural  masses  in  this  country  of 
ours.  In  the  face  of  the  gigantic,  economic,  social  and  political 
problems  that  are  now  demanding  our  thoughtful  attention,  it  is 
little  short  of  criminal  for  the  Grange  to  stop  to  wrangle  over 
non-essential  differences  of  opinion  or  policy,  thereby  committing 
an  unpardonable  sin  against  human  welfare.  All  differences  must 
be  settled  by  the  majority.  In  a  democracy  there  is  no  other 
way.  A  wrangle  among  ourselves  must  weaken  our  effectiveness 
as  certainly  as  the  overthrow  of  discipline  and  order  would  de- 
stroy the  effectiveness  of  an  advancing  army  in  front  of  a  power- 
ful enemy.  No  army  without  discipline,  and  disloyal  to  its 
leaders,  has  ever  won  a  great  victory  and  never  will. 

"The  Grange  has  nothing  to  fear  from  the  outside;  but  sedi- 
tion, disloyalty  and  treachery  on  the  inside  mean  ignominious 
failure  and  death.  United  by  the  strong  and  faithful  tie  of  agri- 
culture, the  future  of  the  Grange  must  be  crowned  with  still 
greater  achievement  for  the  people  who  dwell  in  the  open  coun- 


274  PATRONS  OF  HUSBANDRY 

try.    May  God  give  us  strength  and  wisdom  to  discharge  our  full 
duty  to  those  people ! 

Worthy  Treasurer  Eva  S.  McDowell  reported  total 
resources  of  the  National  Grange,  October  i,  191 1,  as 
$113,003.04. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  this  total  is  $4,922.79  less  than 
the  total  one  year  before.  This  came  about  as  the 
result  of  a  more  liberal  extension  policy  which  had 
absorbed  the  entire  income  of  the  National  Grange 
above  current  expenses  and  nearly  $5,000  of  the  assets. 

The  Secretary  reported  453  new  Granges  organized 
and  60  dormant  Granges  reorganized.  The  increase  of 
42  new  Granges  over  the  previous  year  hardly  justified 
the  increased  expense. 

The  Board  of  Managers  of  the  National  Grange 
Monthly  made  a  full  report  of  the  financial  condition 
of  the  paper  under  their  management  for  the  first  year, 
showing  "the  present  condition  of  the  paper  altogether 
promising,"  with  the  conclusion  that: 

"What  the  future  of  The  National  Grange  Monthly  may  be  ex- 
pected to  be,  can  to  some  extent  be  judged  by  the  year  herein  re- 
ported ;  though  the  fact  must  not  escape  attention  that  in  getting  a 
new  paper  of  this  sort  going  there  were  obstacles  to  overcome, 
starting  expenses  to  be  borne  and  a  standing  to  be  made  for  the 
paper.  We  believe  The  National  Grange  Monthly  today  has  the 
respect  of  all  the  members  of  the  Order  who  are  familiar  with  it; 
that  it  is  recognized  as  exactly  what  the  instructions  of  this  body 
one  year  ago  directed  it  should  be — a  genuine  Grange  paper;  and  it 
has  adhered  strictly  to  that  field,  believing  that  to  be  its  legitimate 
place  and  the  one  where  all  its  efforts  could  be  most  wisely  con- 
centrated. 

"We  recommend  that  the  future  management  of  The  National 
Grange  Monthly  be  vested  in  a  Board  of  Managers,  consisting 
of  three  members  of  the  Order,  who  shall  be  elected  annually  by 
ballot  of  this  body,  by  the  following  method :  At  the  present  ses- 
sion one  member  of  said  Board  shall  be  elected  for  a  term  of 
three  years,  one  for  two  years,  and  one  for  one  year.  And  each 
year  thereafter  one  member  for  a  term  of  three  years." 

In  compliance  with  this  recommendation  later  in  the 
session,  Oliver  Wilson,  N.  P.  Hull  and  T.  C.  Atkeson 


N.  J.  BACHELDER'S  ADMINISTRATION,  I9IO-I9II      275 

were  elected  a  Board  of  Managers,  for  three,  two  and 
one  year,  respectively. 

The  report  of  the  Committee  on  Finance,  as  it  was 
finally  adopted,  was  as  follows: 

"We  recommend  that  the  voting  members  and  officers  receive 
$4  a  day  for  the  time  necessary  to  reach  the  place  of  session,  at- 
tendance during  session,  and  return  therefrom;  and  3  cents  a 
mile  for  distance  traveled  by  the  nearest  practical  route  in  com- 
ing to  and  returning  therefrom. 

"We  recommend  that  the  Worthy  Master  receive  $2000  per 
annum  and  traveling  expenses  while  away  from  home  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  official  duties,  also  his  necessary  office  expenses. 

"We  recommend  that  the  Worthy  Lecturer  be  paid  $400  per 
annum  and  $4  a  day  and  necessary  traveling  expenses  while 
away  from  home  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  by  direction  of 
the  Executive  Committee,  also  his  necessary  office  expenses. 

"We  recommend  that  the  Worthy  Treasurer  be  paid  $500  per 
annum  and  $4  a  day  and  necessary  traveling  expenses  while 
away  from  home  by  direction  of  the  Executive  Committee,  also 
office  expenses. 

"We  recommend  that  the  Worthy  Secretary  be  paid  $1,200  per 
annum  and  $4  a  day  and  necessary  traveling  expenses  while 
on  duty  by  direction  of  the  Executive  Committee,  also  his  neces- 
sary office  expenses. 

"We  recommend  that  each  member  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee be  paid  $4  a  day  when  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  Na- 
tional Grange  and  necessary  office  and  traveling  expenses." 

The  Grange  reiterated  its  former  position  on  many 
questions  of  public  importance  and  renewed  its  pledges 
to  press  forward  in  the  cause  of  agriculture. 

One  of  the  features  of  the  session  was  the  presenta- 
tion of  a  silver  tea  service  to  the  retiring  Master  and 
wife  as  a  token  of  appreciation  of  faithful  service  fo* 
the  Grange. 

The  six  years  of  Worthy  Master  Bachelder's  service 
had  been  ably  conducted,  and  especially  notable 
for  their  brilliant  legislative  record.  He  left  the  Order 
greatly  strengthened  in  numbers  and  sound  in  its 
treasury  and  financial  management.  The  new  adminis- 
tration had  a  fair  field  for  accomplishment,  and  the 


276  PATRONS  OF    HUSBANDRY 

work  of  the  year  was  taken  up  with  zeal  and  energy. 
The  Worthy  Master  had  the  Grange  field  spread  out 
before  him  ready  for  cultivation. 


CHAPTER  XXV 

Oliver    Wilson's    Administration — First    Term,    Two 

Years,  1912-1913 — Forty-Sixth  and  Forty-Seventh 

Sessions  of  the  National  Grange 

The  forty-sixth  session  of  the  National  Grange  met 
at  Spokane,  Wash.,  November  13  to  22,  1912.  All  the 
officers  were  present: 

Master — Oliver  Wilson,  Illinois. 
Overseer — L.  H.  Healey,  Connecticut. 
Lecturer — N.  P.  Hull,  Michigan. 
Steward — D.  C.  Mullen,  Idaho. 
Assistant  Steward — Geo.  R.  Schaefer,  Wisconsin. 
Chaplain — C.  F.  Smith,  Vermont. 
Treasurer — Mrs.  E.  S.  McDowell,  Massachusetts. 
Secretary — C.  M.  Freeman,  Ohio. 
Gatekeeper — A.  B.  Judson,  Iowa. 
Ceres — Mrs.  Esther  E.  Pattee,  New  Hampshire. 
Pomona — Mrs.  Cordelia  Atkeson,  West  Virginia. 
Flora — Mrs.  Ida  Judson,  Iowa. 

Lady  Assistant  Steward — Mrs.  Mary  A.  Smith,  Vermont. 
Executive  Committee — F.   N.  Godfrey,    Chairman,    New  York; 
C.  O.  Raine,  Secretary,  Missouri;  S.  H.  Messick,  Delaware. 

The  following  29  states  were  represented :  Califor- 
nia, E.  T.  Pettit;  Colorado,  John  and  Mrs.  Morris; 
Connecticut,  J.  A.  and  Mrs.  Sherwood;  Delaware, 
S.  H.  and  Mrs.  Messick;  Idaho,  H.  and  Mrs.  Har- 
land ;  Illinois,  Robert  and  Mrs.  Eaton ;  Indiana,  Aaron 
and  Mrs.  Jones;  Iowa,  A.  B.  and  Mrs.  Judson;  Kan- 
sas, Geo.  and  Mrs.  Black;  Kentucky,  F.  P.  and  Mrs. 
Wolcott;  Maine,  C.  S.  and  Mrs.  Stetson;  Maryland, 
H.  J.  and  Mrs.  Patterson ;  Massachusetts,  C.  M.  and 
Mrs.  Gardner;  Michigan,  N.  P.  and  Mrs.  Hull;  Min- 
nesota, Sarah  G.  and  Mr.  Baird ;  Missouri,  C.  O.  and 
Mrs.  Raine;  Montana,  O.  E.  and  Mrs.  Young;  New 
Hampshire,  Richard  and  Mrs.  Pattee;  New  Jersey, 

277 


278  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

G.  W.  F.  and  Mrs.  Gaunt;  New  York,  W.  H.  and  Mrs. 
Vary;  Ohio,  T.  C.  and  Mrs.  Laylin;  Oregon,  C.  E.  and 
Mrs.  Spence;  Pennsylvania,  W.  T.  and  Mrs.  Creasey; 
Rhode  Island,  F.  E.  and  Mrs.  Marchant;  South  Da- 
kota, G.  R.  and  Mrs.  Malone;  Vermont,  C.  F.  and 
Mrs.  Smith;  Washington,  C.  B.  and  Mrs.  Kegley; 
West  Virginia,  T.  C.  and  Mrs.  Atkeson;  Wisconsin, 
H.  M.  and  Mrs.  Culbertson. 

Like  the  first  message  of  a  new  governor  or  a  new 
president,  the  first  annual  address  of  a  new  Worthy 
Master  is  looked  for  with  more  than  ordinary  interest. 
Worthy  Master  Wilson  measured  up  to  this  respon- 
sibility with  credit  and  ability.    He  stated  that : 

"The  condition  of  the  Order  has  been  gradually  improving 
throughout  the  year,  both  in  growth  and  efficiency  of  work.  There 
have  been  organized  from  October  1,  1911,  to  October  1,  1912, 
472  new  Granges,  besides  the  number  reorganized,  exceeding  by 
19  the  proud  record  of  new  organizations  which  was  made  last 
year." 

One  new  State  Grange  was  organized  in  Montana. 
He  declared: 

"The  time  has  come  for  active  and  aggressive  work  in  extend- 
ing the  Order  in  new  states,  where  there  is  a  demand  for  the 
Grange  and  evidence  given  that  a  live,  active  State  Grange  will 
be  maintained.  Important  and  desirable  as  this  part  of  the  work 
may  be,  it  is  of  far  greater  importance  to  build  up  the  Grange 
states  which  are  now  weak,  for  if  all  states  which  are  not  repre- 
sented in  the  National  Grange  were  well  and  thoroughly  organ- 
ized, alive  and  active  in  all  departments  of  Grange  work,  their 
influence  would  be  irresistible  and  the  organization  would  spread 
through  other  states. 

"By  and  through  the  united  effort  of  our  membership,  coupled 
with  other  agencies  at  work  for  the  same  end,  the  zone  system  of 
parcels  post  was  adopted,  and  will  go  into  effect  January  1.  Al- 
though I  fully  realize  that  this  law  is  not  all  that  the  Grange 
has  asked  for,  I  believe  that  we  should  give  it  our  loyal  support ; 
but  we  should,  instead  of  relinquishing  our  efforts,  redouble  our 
energy  to  secure  a  general  parcels  post  system  that  will  be 
equitable  and  just,  and  which  will  best  serve  all  our  people. 

"The  Grange  stands  for  and  advocates  Federal  aid  for  road 
improvement.    There  can  be  no  good  reason  given  why  the  Gov- 


Nahum   J.   Bachelder,    New    Hampshire,   tenth    Master   of   the 

National  Grange. 


Oliver    Wilson,    Illinois,     eleventh    Master    of    the    National 

Grange. 


OLIVER   WILSON'S  ADMINISTRATION,    I9I2-I913      279 

ernment  should  not  appropriate  money  for  the  maintaining  and 
the  improving  of  the  public  highway  the  same  as  for  our  public 
waterways.  Seventy-five  per  cent  of  the  product  of  our  country 
must  pass  over  the  public  highway  before  it  can  be  transported 
over  our  railway  or  water  systems.  While  the  Government  has 
spent  millions  of  dollars  for  highway  improvement  in  our  foreign 
possessions,  it  has  never  appropriated  one  dollar  to  be  used  on  the 
highways  in  continental  United  States. 

"Two  years  ago  the  National  Grange  authorized  the  publication 
of  The  National  Grange  Monthly,  a  paper  owned  and  controlled 
by  the  National  Grange,  the  object  being  to  furnish  information 
to  our  members  from  every  section  of  the  country,  showing  to 
them,  as  can  be  done  in  no  other  way,  what  this  organization  of 
ours  is  accomplishing,  and  how  we  are  knit  and  bound  together 
for  common  good.  This  paper  is  not  expected  to,  and  should  not, 
interfere  with  any  state  publications,  because  they  occupy  entirely 
different  fields  and  one  cannot  take  the  place  of  the  other." 

His  interpretation  of  the  Grange  and  politics  was  as 

follows : 

"Having  received  during  the  past  few  months  many  inquiries, 
especially  from  our  newer  members,  in  regard  to  the  Grange  and 
politics,  I  feel  called  upon  to  clearly  set  forth,  as  I  understand  it, 
the  Grange  position  on  this  question.  The  Declaration  of  Pur- 
poses, adopted  at  the  seventh  session  of  the  National  Grange, 
makes  clear  the  position,  wherein  it  says :  'We  emphatically  and 
sincerely  assert  the  oft-repeated  truth  taught  in  our  organic  law, 
that  the  Grange — National,  State  or  Subordinate — is  not  a  poli- 
tical or  party  organization.'  On  page  42  of  the  Digest  we  find 
the  following:  'The  word  political  in  the  Constitution  means 
partisan  politics,  and  does  not  include  or  refer  to  general  ques- 
tions of  political  economy.  Political  circulars  dated  at  the 
Grange,  or  in  any  way  bearing  the  impress  of  the  Order,  such  as 
using  official  letterheads,  envelopes,  or  in  any  way  that  shall 
'create  the  impression  that  the  Order  is  political,  or  lends  itself  to 
partisan  political  action,  is  a  violation  of  the  fundamental  laws  of 
our  Order,  and  should  in  all  instances  be  disapproved !' 
The  Grange  from  its  earliest  organization  has  adhered  to  this 
high  standard  and  must  continue  so  to  do.  The  National  Grange 
should  be  a  leader  in  public  thought  and  public  action,  and  should 
advocate  measures  because  they  are  in  the  interest  of  the  agricul- 
tural class.  I  am  always  pleased  to  see  our  members  elected  to 
offices  of  trust,  and  believe  thereby  our  organization  is  strength- 
ened and  enabled  to  do  more  effective  work,  but  no  officer  or  past 
officer  has  a  right  to  use  his  official  position  or  allow  himself,  dur- 


280  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

ing  these  political  campaigns,  on  any  political  platform,  to  be 
introduced  as  an  officer  of  the  Grange,  nor  has  any  officer  or  mem- 
ber the  right,  according  to  our  organic  law,  to  write  partisan  let- 
ters or  addresses  for  publication  and  allow  his  name  to  be  signed 
thereto  as  an  official  or  past  official  of  the  Grange." 

The  Worthy  Treasurer  reported  the  total  resources 

of  the  National  Grange,  October  I,  1912,  to  be  $99,- 

390-35- 

The  Worthy  Secretary  reported  472  new  Granges 

organized  and  33  dormant  Granges  reorganized. 

A  surplus  of  more  than  $1 18,000  two  years  before  had 
been  reduced  to  $99,390.35,  besides  using  the  entire 
income  of  the  National  Grange.  Increased  salaries, 
and  per  diem,  and  expansion,  and  extension  in  other 
directions,  had  helped  to  do  this.  The  Committee  on 
Finance  made  the  usual  recommendations,  with  the 
proviso  "that  the  amount  used  shall  not  be  so  great  as 
to  reduce  the  funds  of  the  National  Grange  below 
$100,000,  at  the  end  of  the  year."  A  motion  to  amend 
was  made  that  the  funds  were  not  to  be  reduced  below 
$90,000. 

Looking  back  across  the  years  of  Grange  history  to 
the  time  when  the  National  Grange  had  become  bank- 
rupt after  having  dissipated  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
dollars  worse  than  uselessly,  the  writer  opposed  the 
motion  to  amend  with  all  the  force  he  could  command, 
but  the  motion  to  amend  prevailed  by  two  majority. 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted: 

"Whereas,  The  telegraph  and  telephone  are  universally  con- 
ceded to  be  one  of  the  best  means  of  transmitting  news,  informa- 
tion, etc.;  and 

"Whereas,  The  present  system  of  privately  owned  and  con- 
trolled telegraph  and  telephone  lines  is  so  complicated  and  exten- 
sive that  these  valuable  additions  to  our  business  and  social  life 
are  beyond  the  reach  of  the  common  people ;  therefore,  be  it 

"Resolved,  That  we  recommend  that  a  vigorous  campaign  of 
education  be  instituted  by  this  body  looking  toward  the  establish- 
ment of  a  modern,  nation-wide  system  of  telegraph  and  telephone 
lines  owned  and  operated  by  the  National  Government  as  a  part 
of  the  postal  service." 


OLIVER  WILSON'S  ADMINISTRATION,  I912-I913        28l 

Many  other  resolutions  were  adopted  concerning  a 
wide  range  of  economic  subjects,  and  calculated  to 
emphasize  the  work  of  the  Grange  and  magnify  the 
dignity  and  importance  of  agriculture.  To  fully  ap- 
preciate the  splendid  work  done  and  the  broadminded- 
ness  of  this  militant  organization  of  farmers,  one  must 
read  the  carefully  prepared  reports  of  committees,  the 
reports  of  officers  and  reports  of  masters  of  State 
Granges.  The  latter  gave  quite  a  clear  insight  into  the 
activities  of  the  Order  in  the  several  states. 

C.  S.  Stetson  of  Maine  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Executive  Committee  for  three  years. 

In  a  spirit  of  hearty  fraternal  good  fellowship,  the 
Grange  closed  in  form,  and  once  more  the  members, 
endowed  with  a  new  inspiration  of  humanitarianism, 
departed  for  their  homes  to  take  up  again  the  work  in 
their  several  states. 

The  forty-seventh  session  of  the  National  Grange 
met  at  Manchester,  N.  H.,  November  12  to  21,  1913.  All 
the  officers  were  present  and  in  their  places  when  the 
Grange  opened.  Thirty  states  were  represented  by  the 
same  delegates  as  at  the  last  session,  except  Maryland 
was  not  represented  and  the  following  changes  were 
made: 

California,  Jos.  and  Mrs.  Holmes;  Delaware,  F.  C. 
and  Mrs.  Bancroft;  Illinois,  T.  A.  and  Mrs.  Denney; 
Kansas,  A.  P.  Reardon;  Kentucky,  D.  A.  and  Mrs. 
Lafferty;  Michigan,  J.  C.  and  Mrs.  Ketcham ;  Minne- 
sota, C.  L.  and  Mrs.  Rice;  Nebraska,  J.  D.  and  Mrs. 
Ream;  Rhode  Island,  J.  A.  and  Mrs.  Peckham;  Ver- 
mont, W.  N.  and  Mrs.  Cady. 

The  Worthy  Master  reported  the  State  of  Wyoming 
as  having  been  duly  organized,  and  the  State  Grange 
was  represented  at  this  session  by  A.  F.  and  Mrs.  Hart. 

"The  question  of  extending  the  Order  is  of  vital  importance. 
New  states  should  be  added,  but  it  is  of  far  greater  importance 


282  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

to  strengthen  the  states  which  are  now  weak,  thereby  enabling 
them  to  accomplish  more  effective  work  and  exert  a  greater  in- 
fluence than  can  be  done  in  their  present  condition. 

"I  merely  desire  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that,  after  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century  of  agitation  and  education,  another  victory  has 
been  secured  for  the  Grange— United  States  Senators  are  now 
directly  amenable  to  the  people. 

"It  must  be  remembered  that  the  Grange  was  in  the  forefront 
of  this  battle  and  practically  stood  alone  for  years  during  the 
time  when  this  measure  was  most  unpopular. 

"Another  Grange  victory  was  secured  by  the  enactment  of  the 
parcels  post  law,  which  for  more  than  twenty  years  was  advocated 
by  the  Grange.  Since  establishing  the  parcels  post  system,  the 
Postmaster-General  has  added  to  its  efficiency  by  increasing  the 
parcel  weight  limit  and  decreasing  the   rate." 

Oleomargarine  amendment,  federal  aid  for  highway 
improvement,  agricultural  credit,  peace,  The  National 
Grange  Monthly,  and  National  Grange  legislative  policies, 
were  interestingly  discussed  by  the  Worthy  Master. 

Attention  was  called  to  the  fact  that  during  the  past 
year  O.  H.  Kelley,  the  last  one  of  the  "seven  founders 
of  the  Order,"  had  passed  away. 

The  Worthy  Treasurer  reported  total  resources  of 
the  National  Grange,  October  1,  1913,  to  be  $95,923.04. 

The  Secretary  reported  411  new  Granges  organized 
and  20  dormant  Granges  reorganized. 

The  Committee  on  Finance  at  this  session,  recog- 
nizing the  soundness  of  the  contention  not  to  reduce 
the  funds  below  $100,000,  made  the  following  report, 
which  was  adopted : 

"We  recommend  that  $100,000  be  retained  in  the  Treasury  for 
permanent  investment  or  pressing  emergency,  and  that  such  sur- 
plus over  said  amount  as  may  accrue  after  payment  of  running 
expenses  and  salaries  be  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  Executive 
Committee  to  be  used  for  extension  work." 

Nothing  but  the  most  dire  necessity  should  ever 
tempt  the  National  Grange  to  reduce  this  "reserve 
fund."     It  should  be  increased  rather  than  reduced. 

The  Committee  on  Resolutions  said  among  many 
other  things: 


Oliver  wilson's  administration,  1912-1913      283 

"We  shall  name  some  of  the  things  yet  unaccomplished  which 
now  demand  our  attention,  as  follows : 

"A  greatly  extended  and  improved  parcel  post,  more  extensive 
and  simplified  postal  savings  banks  and  the  loaning  of  their  ac- 
cumulated funds  to  farmers,  is  demanded. 

"Better,  more  scientific  and  more  effective  protection  for  our 
dairy  interests  against  fraudulent  and  unfair  competition  is  im- 
peratively necessary. 

"In  our  opinion  the  time  has  come  when  the  Government 
should  own  and  operate  the  telegraph  and  telephone  systems  of 
the  country  in  the  interest  of  the  people. 

"We  believe  in  the  policy  of  the  Federal  aid  to  road  improve- 
ment, but  insist  that  such  improvement  must  be  primarily  for  the 
purpose  of  connecting  the  farms  of  the  country  with  the  railroads 
and  shipping  centers  and  not  for  cross-country  speedways. 

"We  demand  that  the  natural  resources  of  our  country  shall  be 
conserved  to  the  greatest  extent  possible  consistent  with  a  rea- 
sonable and  economic  use  of  the  same. 

"We  indorse  the  physical  valuation  of  railroads  now  under- 
taken by  the  national  government  and  demand  a  more  effective 
railroad  and  express  regulation. 

"We  indorse  a  national  plan  for  vocational  education  and  agri- 
cultural extension,  but  we  regard  the  improvement  of  country 
elementary  schools  and  of  the  rural  high  schools  of  greater  and 
paramount  importance. 

"We  believe  the  time  has  come  when  the  National  Grange 
should  develop  and  inaugurate  some  general  plan  of  mutual  or 
co-operative  life  insurance. 

"In  most  of  our  states  the  burden  01  government  bears  most 
heavily  and  unequally  upon  agricultural  property,  and  the  Grange 
should  everywhere  exert  its  full  force  in  bringing  about  more 
equitable  tax  laws." 

The  session  approved  a  group  picture  of  "the  seven 
founders"  of  the  Order,  prepared  by  W.  N.  Howard  of 
Massachusetts ;  favored  an  amendment  to  the  U.  S. 
Constitution  prohibiting  the  manufacture  and  sale  of 
intoxicating  liquors ;  favored  loaning  money  deposited 
in  postal  savings  banks  directly  to  farmers  and  home 
builders  at  a  low  rate  of  interest  sufficient  to  pay  the 
cost  of  the  business,  under  necessary  restrictions  to 
insure  safety ;  favored  government  ownership  of  tele- 
graph and  telephone  systems ;    they  viewed  with  ap- 


284  PATRONS  OF    HUSBANDRY 

prehension  the  growing  tendency  toward  monopoliz- 
ing the  water  power  of  this  country,  and  urged 
upon  Congress  and  the  several  state  legislatures  the 
early  enactment  of  laws  to  prevent  water  power 
monopoly  and  to  preserve  as  far  as  possible  that  most 
inexhaustible  source  of  power  for  the  welfare  of  all 
the  people ;  indorsed  the  activities  of  alert  cham- 
pions of  pure  food  throughout  the  country  to  the 
end  that  producers  receive  justice  and  that  consumers 
are  protected;  asked  and  demanded  of  Congress  the 
enactment  of  a  law  that  would  prevent  such  counterfeit- 
ing and  fraud  by  prohibiting  the  manufacture  and  sale 
of  oleomargarine,  for  interstate  shipment,  of  a 
color  imitating  that  of  butter  or  any  shade  of  yel- 
low; opposed  all  forms  of  franchises  for  the 
enrichment  of  the  few  at  the  expense  of  the  peo- 
ple, the  elimination  of  the  public  lands,  except  to 
bona  fide  settlers,  the  wholesale  grabbing  of  the 
mineral  wealth  of  the  nation  by  syndicates;  fa- 
vored conservation  generally  of  all  the  natural  re- 
sources, the  public  lands,  water  power,  coal  lands  and 
mineral  deposits  by  the  Federal  Government,  not  alone 
for  the  interest  of  this  generation,  but  for  the  genera- 
tions to  come. 

Many  other  resolutions  of  importance  were  adopted, 
but  these  few  indicate  the  scope  of  action  of  the  body 
at  this  time. 

At  the  preceding  session  of  the  National  Grange 
a  committee  had  been  appointed  to  confer  with  President- 
elect Wilson  about  the  appointment  of  a  Secretary  of 
Agriculture.  This  committee,  composed  of  T.  C.  Atke- 
son,  Richard  Pattee,  and  C.  O.  Raine,  called  upon  Gov- 
ernor Wilson  at  the  Governor's  office  in  the  State 
House  at  Trenton,  N.  J.,  January  27,  1913.  After  a 
conference  of  considerable  time  he  remarked  that  as  he 
could  not  remember  all  that  had  been  told  him,  he 
would  ask  the  committee  to  file   with  him    a    memo- 


Oliver  Wilson's  administration,  1912-1913      285 

randum.    In  compliance  with  this  request,  the  follow- 
ing letter  was  later  mailed  to  him : 

"Hon.  Woodrow  Wilson,  Trenton,  N.  J. 
"Dear  Sir: 

"When  the  undersigned  committee  of  the  National  Grange  con- 
ferred with  you  on  January  27  with  reference  to  your  Secretary 
of  Agriculture,  you  did  us  the  honor  to  suggest  that  we  file  with 
you  a  memorandum  of  our  views  upon  the  subject.  You  will 
remember  that  we  did  not  urge  any  particular  candidate,  but 
confined  what  we  had  to  say  to  the  character  and  qualifications 
of  the  man  we  desired.  The  great  agricultural  class  are  intensely 
interested  in  the  selection  you  may  make. 

"1.  We  trust  that  the  office  of  Secretary  of  Agriculture  may 
never  be  awarded  as  a  political  favor,  but  because  of  fitness  for 
office  only. 

"2.  We  believe  that  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture  should  have 
broad  scholarship,  far-seeing  statesmanship,  and  splendid  execu- 
tive ability,  but  he  must  have  something  more  than  these. 

"3.  The  position  of  Secretary  of  Agriculture  is  a  professional 
one,  and  he  should  be  a  farmer  to  the  same  extent  and  for  the 
same  reasons  that  the  attorney-general  should  be  a  lawyer. 

"4.  He  should  stand  for  the  American  farmer,  and  should 
not  only  be  in  sympathy  with  farmers,  but  so  identified  with 
them  in  vocation,  ideas  and  effort  that  farmers  recognize  him  as 
one  of  themselves. 

"5.  A  man  reared  on  the  farm  and  whose  life  has  been  spent  in 
a  study  of  its  problems  would  be  best  qualified  to  deal  with  them. 

"6.  He  should  have  made  a  study  of  the  agricultural  conditions 
and  possibilities,  and  know  the  agricultural  resources  of  the 
country  and  the  possibilities  and  probabilities  of  their  develop- 
ment with  the  material  at  hand. 

"7.  It  is  most  essential  that  the  head  of  this  department  shall 
be  a  man  identified  in  the  public  mind  with  agricultural  matters, 
around  whom  agricultural  interests  and  workers  will  rally  with 
confidence  in  his  leadership. 

"8.  We  believe  that  two  or  three  of  the  men  who  have  been 
suggested  would  have  the  confidence  of  the  farmers,  and  other- 
wise measure  up  to  the  requirements  of  the  office,  and  we  trust 
that  after  mature  deliberation  you  will  select  the  man  who  most 
nearly  fills  the  specifications  enumerated  above. 

"9.  His  location,  his  training,  his  early  life  on  the  farm,  and 
his  known  sympathy  with  the  farmer  people  of  the  country,  as 
well  as  his  demonstrated  executive  ability,  should  indicate  his 
fitness  for  large  usefulness  to  American  agriculture. 


286  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

"10.  We  have  no  personal  interest  in  any  candidate,  and  will 
pledge  the  Grange  to  support  heartily  anyone  you  may  select  who 
possesses  the  above  qualifications,  and  will  do  our  best  to  promote 
his  work. 

"In  conclusion,  we  want  to  thank  you  on  behalf  of  the  Na- 
tional Grange  and  of  ourselves  for  the  courteous  treatment  ac- 
corded to  us  upon  the  occasion  of  our  conference,  and  we  venture 
to  express  the  hope  that  you  may  select  a  man  for  the  important 
office  who  may  fill  the  large  measure  of  service  expected  of  him 
by  farmers  of  America  who  eat  and  sleep  and  labor  in  the  open 
country." 

The  Board  of  Managers  of  the  National  Grange 
Monthly  made  a  very  encouraging  report,  in  which 
they  said : 

"Summarized  concisely,  our  financial  record  of  the  nearly 
three  years  that  The  National  Grange  Monthly  has  been  issued  in 
its  present  form  and  under  the  present  management,  means  that, 
starting  with  nothing  three  years  ago  January,  the  paper  has 
been  carefully  conducted  during  that  period;  has  been  enlarged 
from  sixteen  to  twenty  pages;  greatly  improved  in  contents, 
illustration  and  general  appearance;  and  comes  to  this  session 
with  a  balance  on  hand,  of  cash  and  bills  receivable,  of  almost 
$1,000,  while  nothing  from  the  emergency  appropriation  that  has 
been  available  from  the  National  Grange  Treasury,  had  it  been 
needed  to  carry  on  the  paper,  has  been  drawn. 

"Steadily  and  surely  the  paper  has  been  established  on  a  sound, 
permanent  basis,  and  today  it  must  be  reckoned  as  one  of  the 
distinct  assets  of  the  Order." 

Several  sets  of  resolutions  on  "rural  credits"  had 
been  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Resolutions,  which 
reported  as  follows : 

"All  the  above  resolutions  have  been  carefully  considered, 
and,  realizing  the  importance  of  the  subject  of  rural  credits  at 
this  time,  your  committee  has  digested  as  best  it  could  all  the 
above  whereases  and  resolutions,  and,  after  a  full  discussion  of 
the  many  phases  of  the  subject,  has  decided  to  present  to  the 
National  Grange  the  following  resolutions  with  recommendation 
that  they  be  adopted : 

"1.  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  National  Grange 
that  any  legislation  for  the  purpose  of  bettering  farm  credits  is 
a  part  of  the  great  national  policy  of  conservation  of  food  supply, 
and  as  such  the  government  of  the  nation  should  carry  out  this 


Oliver  wilson's  administration,  1912-1913      287 

policy,  and  it  cannot  properly  be  delegated  to  private  capital  for 
general  exploitation  and  profit. 

"2.  Resolved,  That  any  farm  credit  association  which  shall 
receive  any  privileges  by  or  under  federal  or  state  law  should 
be  composed  of  farmers  and  not  by  capitalists  of  high  finance 
who  have,  heretofore,  dominated  agricultural  credit  and  created 
conditions  which  now  demand  relief. 

"3.  Resolved,  That  any  farm  credit  plan  which  does  not  include 
a  direct  reduction  of  the  'prevailing  rates'  of  interest,  as  well  as 
a  long  term  of  small  annual  payment  upon  farm  mortgages,  will 
not  meet  agricultural  requirements. 

"4.  Resolved,  That  the  government  of  the  United  States  should 
borrow  money  at  a  rate  of  interest  not  to  exceed  3^2  per  cent 
and  lend  the  money  at  a  rate  not  to  exceed  414  per  cent  to  the 
farmers  upon  long  time  farm  land  mortgages,  with  such  restric- 
tions as  may  be  necessary  to  make  the  government  perfectly 
secure,  and  the  profit  to  the  government  to  be  expended  in  road 
improvement  or  for  some  other  object  that  will  benefit  the  whole 
people." 

After  considerable  discussion  all  the  resolutions  were 

adopted. 

This  was  the  most  largely  attended  session  of  the 
National  Grange  ever  held.  The  Seventh  Degree  class 
numbered  5,459,  and  there  were  probably  not  fewer 
than  10,000  members  of  the  Order  in  attendance. 

The  Master  of  the  Wisconsin  State  Grange  reported 
the  following : 

"For  several  years  the  University  of  Wisconsin  has  conferred 
an  honorary  degree  of  appreciation  of  service  rendered  the  pub- 
lic upon  some  persons  of  meritorious  achievement,  and,  appre- 
ciative of  the  work  of  the  Grange  and  its  Founder,  decided  to 
confer  such  degree  of  honor  upon  our  Most  Worthy  Brother 
Oliver  II.  Kelley.  The  plans  were  formulated  and  executed  at 
the  annual  farmers'  course  of  two  weeks  in  February,  but  the 
event  of  his  death  became  known  just  prior  to  the  presentation ; 
but  the  exercises  of  presentation  were  performed  and  the  certifi- 
cate of  honor  forwarded  to  his  family  as  an  honorary  memento 
from  the  great  agricultural  state  of  Wisconsin.  The  following 
is  the  wording : 

"THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  WISCONSIN 
"Recognizing  the  eminent  service  of  Oliver  H.  Kelley  in  the 
development  of  agricultural  thought  and  practice  and  in  appre- 


288  PATRONS  OF    HUSBANDRY 

ciation  of  his  efforts  for  the  improvement  of  agricultural  condi- 
tions this 

"TESTIMONIAL 

is  presented  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Faculty  of  the  Col- 
lege of  Agriculture,  with  the  approval  of  the  Regents  of  the  Uni- 
versity. 

"In  Witness  Whereof,  It  is  sealed  and  signed  by  the  President 
of  the  Regents,  the  President  of  the  University,  and  the  Dean 
of  the  College  of  Agriculture." 

This  recognition  by  a  great  university  of  the  chief 
Founder  of  the  Order  was  appreciated  by  every  mem- 
ber, and  the  honor  could  not  have  been  more  worthily 
bestowed. 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

Oliver  Wilson's  Administration — Second  Term,  Two 

Years,  1914-1915 — Forty-Eighth  and  Forty-Ninth 

Sessions  of  the  National  Grange 

The  forty-eighth  annual  session  of  the  National 
Grange  met  at  Wilmington,  Del.,  November  11-20. 
1914. 

All  the  officers  were  present  but  the  steward,  as  fol- 
lows: 

Master — Oliver  Wilson,  Illinois. 
Overseer — W.  H.  Vary,  New  York. 
Lecturer — G.  W.  F.  Gaunt,  New  Jersey. 
Steward — F.  C.  Bancroft,  Delaware. 
Assistant  Steward — J.  Arthur  Sherwood,  Connecticut. 
Chaplain — A.  P.  Reardon,  Kansas. 
Treasurer — Mrs.  Eva  S.  McDowell,   Massachusetts. 
Secretary — C.  M.  Freeman,  Ohio. 
Gatekeeper — C.  L.  Rice,  Minnesota. 
Ceres — Mrs.  Esther  E.  Pattee,  New  Hampshire. 
Pomona — Mrs.  Cora  E.  Ketcham,  Michigan. 
Flora — Mrs.  Ella  Peckham,  Rhode  Island. 
Lady  Assistant  Steward — Mrs.  Mabel  H.  Harland,  Idaho. 
Executive  Committee — C.  S.  Stetson,  Maine;  A.  B.  Judson,  Iowa; 
W.  N.    Cady,  Vermont. 

Thirty  states  were  represented  as  follows :  Califor- 
nia, Joseph  and  Mrs.  Holmes;  Colorado,  John  and  Mrs. 
Morris;  Connecticut,  J.  A.  and  Mrs.  Sherwood;  Idaho, 
H.  and  Mrs.  Harland;  Illinois,  T.  A.  and  Mrs.  Denny; 
Indiana,  L.  H.  and  Mrs.  Wright;  Iowa,  A.  B.  and  Mrs. 
Judson ;  Kansas,  A.  P.  Reardon ;  Kentucky,  D.  N.  and 
Mrs.  Lafferty;  Maine,  C.  S.  and  Mrs.  Stetson;  Mary- 
land, B.  John  and  Mrs.  Black;  Massachusetts,  Edward 
E.  and  Mrs.  Chapman;  Michigan,  J.  C.  and  Mrs. 
Ketcham ;  Minnesota,  C.  L.  and  Mrs.  Rice ;  Montana, 
O.  E.  and  Mrs.  Young;  Missouri,  C.  O.  and  Mrs. 
Raine;  Nebraska,  J.  D.  and  Mrs.  Ream;  New  Hamp- 

289 


29O  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

shire,  Wesley  and  Mrs.  Adams ;  New  Jersey,  G.  W.  F. 
and  Mrs.  Gaunt;  New  York,  W.  H.  and  Mrs.  Vary; 
Ohio,  T.  C.  and  Mrs.  Laylin;  Oregon,  C.  E.  and  Mrs. 
Spence;  Pennsylvania,  W.  T.  and  Mrs.  Creasy;  Rhode 
Island,  J.  A.  and  Mrs.  Peckham ;  South  Dakota,  G.  W. 
Dixon;  Vermont,  W.  N.  and  Mrs.  Cady;  Washington, 
C.  B.  and  Mrs.  Kegley;  West  Virginia,  T.  C.  and  Mrs. 
Atkeson;  Wisconsin,  H.  M.  and  Mrs.  Culbertson; 
Wyoming,  A.  F.  and  Mrs.  Hart. 

In  regard  to  the  condition  of  the  Order,  the  Worthy 
Master  said : 

"Grange  influence  is  being  felt  in  every  department  of  life; 
it  has  become  a  strong  factor  in  shaping  legislation,  both  state 
and  national,  that  is,  in  the  interest  of  the  masses.  The  Grange 
today  occupies  an  enviable  position;  its  action  is  being  watched 
by  every  interest,  for  they  fully  realize  that  the  organized 
farmer  is  a  force  that  must  hereafter  be  reckoned  with. 

"As  time  goes  on  and  our  Order  grows  in  numbers  and  in- 
fluence, there  is  more  expected,  more  responsibility  placed  upon 
it,  so  that  we  are  compelled  to  assume  greater  burdens  of  respon- 
sibility and  reach  out  into  broader  fields  of  work.  I  am  glad 
to  be  able  to  state  that  the  Grange  is  measuring  up  to  this  new 
responsibility,  and  that  more  and  better  work  is  being  done  and 
broader  fields  of  activity  are  being  entered  than  ever  before. 
Thus  it  must  continue  if  we  expect  to  hold  the  confidence  of  the 
people. 

"The  Grange  holds  a  proud  record  in  the  past  for  things 
undertaken  and  accomplished,  but  we  must  remember  that  we 
must  live  for  the  present  and  for  the  future. 

"Our  membership,  taken  as  a  whole,  is  a  united  and  har- 
monious body  that  has  but  one  object  in  view,  and  that  is  what  is 
best  for  the  people  and  our  great  institutions.  With  this  general 
harmony  and  unity  of  purpose  it  is  no  wonder  that  there  have 
been  more  Granges  organized  during  the  fiscal  year  than  there 
has  been  in  any  one  year  for  almost  half  a  century." 

North  Dakota  was  reported  as  a  new  Grange  state, 
but  it  was  not  represented.  The  Worthy  Master  in- 
dorsed a  sound  financial  policy  as  follows: 

"The  total  resources  of  the  National  Grange  October  1,  1913, 
were  $95,923.04.  During  the  year  this  has  been  increased,  and 
October  1,  1914,  we  had  to  the  credit  of  the  National  Grange 
$99,992.34.    In  my  opinion  it  will  be  good  business  policy  to  stead- 


OLIVER  WILSON'S   ADMINISTRATION,    I9I4-I915      29 1 

ily  increase  this  fund,  in  a  ratio  that  will  not  hamper  progress 
or  extension  work,  until  we  have  $100,000  for  a  permanent  in- 
vestment." 

The  Worthy  Master  condemned  free  distribution  of 
seeds;  favored  federal  aid  for  highway  improvement; 
discussed  foreign  immigration ;  farm  credit ;  peace ; 
the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  Grange ;  The  National 
Grange  Monthly,  of  which  he  said :  "It  is  no  longer  an 
experiment,  but  has  proven  that  a  strictly  Grange 
paper  can  be  maintained  by  the  Order.  It  is  exerting 
a  wonderful  influence ;  for,  through  its  columns,  our 
members  are  kept  informed  as  to  the  real  and  true  con- 
dition of  the  Order.  It  enables  them  to  more  fully 
understand  and  appreciate  the  full  scope  of  Grange 
work." 

Of  the  Grange  legislative  policies,  he  said : 

"In  reviewing  the  records  of  the  National  Grange  it  is  inter- 
esting to  note  the  number  of  legislative  questions  that  have  been 
prominently  before  the  Grange.  In  later  years  many  of  these 
have  been  enacted  into  law  and  have  consequently  been  dropped 
from  our  consideration.  It  cannot  be  estimated  exactly  how 
much  influence  the  Grange  has  had  in  bringing  about  a  change  of 
sentiment  as  well  as  the  enactment  of  many  good,  wholesome  and 
just  laws,  but  it  is  a  fact  that  the  Grange  has  exerted  a  power- 
ful influence  on  legislation,  and  it  stands  today  with  an  unsullied 
record,  recognized  as  a  true  and  conservative  organization — one 
that  asks  not  for  special  favors,  but  demands  equity  and  justice 
to  all." 

Supplementing  this,  Worthy  Overseer  W.  H.  Vary 
said  in  his  report: 

"We  cannot  afford  to  be  satisfied  with  the  conquests  already 
won,  and  the  advancements  that  have  been  made  through  the 
influence  of  our  noble  Order  in  making  farm  life  more  worth 
the  living,  but  we  must  work  for  still  further  advancement  until 
we  can  demonstrate  to  the  world  at  large  that  we  are  what  we 
claim  to  be — the  greatest  organization  known  that  has  for  its 
object,  not  only  the  betterment  of  agricultural  conditions,  not 
only  the  creation  of  a  beter  manhood  and  womanhood  among 
ourselves,  but  the  uplift  and  benefit  of  humanity  in  the  world  at 
large. 


292  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

"Perplexing  problems  are  continually  arising  that  not  only  vi- 
tally affect  the  interests  of  agriculture,  but  the  happiness  and  con- 
tentment of  our  fellow-citizens  engaged  in  other  occupations,  and 
it  is  for  the  grand  Order  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry  to  do  its 
share  in  the  settlement  of  these  important  questions,  to  the  end 
that  agriculture  may  not  only  receive  its  just  reward,  but  that 
we  regard  the  rights  and  interests  of  others.  To  do  this  will 
require  our  best  thought  and  earnest  effort. 

"The  splendid  achievements  of  the  Order  during  the  short 
space  of  less  than  half  a  century  is  a  monument  to  the  wisdom 
and  foresight  of  the  founders  of  our  Order  who  builded  better 
than  they  knew.  The  founders  of  our  Order  have  passed  away ; 
but  their  works  still  live  in  the  hearts  and  homes  of  all  true 
Patrons  of  Husbandry,  and  to  you  and  me  has  fallen  the  price- 
less heritage  of  their  energy  and  faithful  labor  in  the  cause  of 
agriculture.  When  our  task  is  finished,  and  our  labors  are  over, 
and  we  have  surrendered  our  places  of  responsibility  and  trust, 
and  have  given  account  of  our  stewardship,  may  it  be  said  of  us, 
as  we  can  and  do  say  of  them,  'Well  done,  good  and  faithful 
Stewards !'  " 

The  Worthy  Treasurer  reported  the  total  resources 
of  the  National  Grange  October  1,  1914 :  Balance  with 
the  Farmers'  Loan  and  Trust  Co.,  $22,751.92;  deposits 
in  savings  banks,  $10,443.62;  railway  and  other  bonds, 
$55414-12;  loans  on  real  estate,  $10,852.34;  unex- 
pended Grange  extension  fund,  244.90;  unexpended 
deputy  fee  fund,  $285.44;  a  total  of  $99,992.34. 

Secretary  Freeman  reported  490  new  Granges  or- 
ganized and  28  dormant  Granges  reorganized  during 
the  year. 

The  Board  of  Managers  of  The  National  Grange 
Monthly  made  a  full  report,  in  which  it  said: 

"The  past  twelve  months  in  the  work  of  The  National  Grange 
Monthly  has  been  the  most  successful  in  the  history  of  the  pub- 
lication, and  the  annual  report  now  about  to  be  made  must  bring 
distinct  satisfaction  to  this  body,  as  well  as  to  the  Patrons  every- 
where, inasmuch  as  the  paper  has  made  itself  such  a  positive  and 
helpful  factor  in  the  Grange  work  of  the  country. 

"Wholly  aside  from  the  financial  report,  there  are  ample  evi- 
dences of  the  success  of  The  National  Grange  Monthly  and  of 
the  certainty  that  it  has  now  been  placed  upon  a  basis  of  per- 
manence that  leaves  no  doubt  of  its  future.    The  increase  of  its 


Oliver  wilson's  administration,  1914-1915     293 

subscription  list  to  nearly  three  times  its  size  at  the  start;  a 
steady  gain  in  advertising  patronage  and  the  recognition  of  the 
paper  by  the  leading  advertising  agencies  in  the  country;  the 
growing  extent  to  which  The  National  Grange  Monthly  is  ac- 
cept -d  as  the  official  spokesman  of  the  Grange  and  the  quota- 
tion of  its  statement  of  Grange  policies  and  plans  by  the  press 
of  the  United  States,  agricultural  and  otherwise;  and,  best  of 
all,  the  growing  confidence  in  the  paper,  expressed  by  the 
Patrons  everywhere,  and  backed  up  by  their  increasing  subscrip- 
tions and  more  frequent  contributions — these  are  the  proof  of 
success  in  The  National  Grange  Monthly  to  which  first  impor- 
tance may  be  attached." 

The  following  resolutions,  introduced  by  T.  C.  Atke- 
son,  were  unanimously  adopted : 

"Whereas,  The  National  Grange  has  accumulated  a  consider- 
able surplus  fund,  and,  recognizing  the  influence  and  prestige 
resulting  from  a  sound  financial  condition,  therefore 

"Resolved,  That  the  National  Grange,  in  forty-eighth  annual 
session  assembled,  does  hereby  create  a  permanent  endowment 
fund  of  $100,000,  and  the  Executive  Committee  is  hereby  in- 
structed to  make  the  best  possible  investment  of  said  fund  in 
government,  state,  municipal  or  other  bonds  or  first  mortgages 
upon  fai.n  lands,  not  to  exceed  one-half  the  value  thereof,  out 
of  any  funds  that  are  now  or  may  hereafter  be  in  the  treasury  of 
the  National  Grange  and  available  for  that  purpose,  until  the  full 
amount  of  $100,000  is  invested.  As  such  investments  mature 
they  shall  be  reinvested  and  the  amount  maintained  at  not  less 
than  $100,000,  and  the  interest  only  shall  be  available  for  current 
use." 

This  would  seem  to  fix  the  policy  of  the  National 
Grange  on  that  subject.    "Position  on  Conservation" : 

"We  recommend  that  the  National  Grange,  in  reaffirming  its 
"position  on  conservation,  insist  that  no  national  resource  now 
owned  by  the  Government,  either  federal  or  state,  shall  be  sold, 
but  shall  be  developed,  either  by  the  Government  or  under  a  sys- 
tem of  short  term  leases,  and  that  all  forest  lands,  water  powers, 
mines  and  similar  natural  resources  that  have  passed  into  private 
ownership  shall  be  taxed  at  a  fair  rate  on  their  full  franchise 
valuation.  The  operating  capitalists  are  entitled  to  a  fair  return 
on  the  capital  invested,  but  they  are  not  entitled  to  a  monopoly 
tribute  for  the  natural  resources  which  God,  in  his  infinite  wis- 
dom, gave  for  the  equal  benefit  of  all  the  people  of  this  and  suc- 
ceeding generations." 


294  PATRONS  OF    HUSBANDRY 

The  Grange,  throughout  its  past  history,  had  in  one 
way  and  another,  had  much  to  say  on  the  subject  of 
"road  improvement."  At  this  session  a  special  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  formulate  what  may  be  said 
to  be  the  Grange  road  improvement  platform.  Be- 
cause of  the  importance  of  the  subject,  the  complete 
report  is  reproduced  here : 

"Whereas,  The  Grange  has  been  the  pioneer  in  the  good  roads 
movement  and  national  aid  for  same,  and  as  the  sentiment  for 
good  roads  is  practically  universal;  and 

"Whereas,  There  is  a  great  danger  of  this  sentiment  being 
diverted  toward  the  construction  of  scenic  highways  and  boule- 
vards for  the  benefit  of  tourists  and  pleasure  seekers,  rather  than 
for  the  business  interests  of  the  general  public;  and 

"Whereas,  The  roads  needed  first  are  those  which  put  the 
farmers  in  close  touch  with  the  trading  centers  and  enable  the 
producer  and  consumer  to  reach  each  other  quickly,  inexpensively 
and  easily,  and  save  the  farmer  much  money  in  the  cost  of  haul- 
age and  which  enable  the  consumer  to  receive  a  share  of  the 
benefits;  and 

"Whereas,  The  more  economical  and  more  expeditious  trans- 
portation of  the  products  of  the  farm  to  the  consumer  would 
reduce  the  cost  of  living  and  be  of  equal  benefit  to  both  consumer 
and  producer;    and 

"Whereas,  While  the  scenic  road  advertises  the  state,  the  in- 
terior highway  develops  its  resources,  the  former  are  desirable 
when  they  can  be  afforded,  but  the  latter  are  indispensable;    and 

"Whereas,  Business  roads  are  the  chief  concern  of  the  Grange, 
and  we  insist  that  their  construction,  maintenance  and  control 
shall  be  k^pt  within  the  smallest  possible  unit  of  population  or 
area  consistent  with  the  highest  efficiency  of  administration,  in 
order  that  the  money  appropriated  shall  be  spent  close  to  the 
people  most  directly  concerned ;  therefore,  be  it 

"Resolved,  By  the  National  Grange  in  this  the  forty-eighth 
annual  session,  that  the  old  adage,  'Business  before  pleasure,'  is 
especially  true  in  regard  to  the  location  and  construction  of  pub- 
lic highways;    and  be  it 

"Resolved,  That  we  are  opposed  to  the  many  bonding  schemes 
advocated  by  those  seeking  touring  roads,  believing  that  the  pay- 
as-you-go  policy  is  far  more  businesslike  in  road  building,  what- 
ever may  be  the  unit  of  administration;    and  be  it 

"Resolved,  That  roads  are  local  affairs  and  their  control  should 
remain  with  the  people  in  whose  midst  they  are  located;    and 


Oliver  Wilson's  administration,  1914-1915     295 

"Resolved,  That  the  National  and  State  governments  may  pro- 
vide general  standards  for  construction  and  maintenance  of  roads 
and  may  protect  themselves  by  inspection;  and 

"Resolved,  That  we  call  the  attention  of  all  our  people  to  the 
grave  dangers  in  top-heavy  bureaucratic  control  of  road  admin- 
istration and  to  the  fact  that  much  of  the  support  for  the  good 
roads  comes  from  those  who  are  more  anxious  to  build  roads  for 
bonds  than  to  sell  bonds  for  roads;  and  be  it 

"Resolved,  That  the  legislative  committees  of  the  Grange,  both 
National  and  State,  are  urged  to  use  every  honorable  endeavor 
to  secure,  first,  business  roads  that  will  serve  the  best  interests 
of  both  producer  and  consumer." 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted: 

"Whereas,  The  year  1866  is  the  real  beginning  of  the  order  of 
Patrons  of  Husbandry,  the  appointment  of  Brother  O.  H.  Kelley, 
by  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  Isaac  Newton  as  an  agent  of  the 
the  Department,  to  visit  the  southern  states,  was  dated  January 
1,  1866;  he  started  on  his  visit  January  13,  1866,  and  he  tells  us 
'from  January  to  May,  1866,  the  idea  of  an  association  was  fast 
getting  fixed  in  my  mind.'  In  April  of  the  same  year  he  first 
gave  an  outline  of  his  plan  to  a  friend  in  Georgia,  and  the  last  of 
the  same  month  Miss  Carrie  A.  Hall  suggested  that  ladies  be 
given  full  membership,  many  other  incidents  indicate  that  the 
year  1866  was  the  formative  year;    and 

"Whereas,  The  meeting  of  the  National  Grange  in  November, 
1916,  will  be  the  fiftieth  annual  session;   therefore,  be  it 

"Resolved,  That  a  suitable  celebration  commemorative  of  the 
founding  of  the  Order  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry  be  ordered  for 
some  date  during  the  1916  session  of  the  National  Grange,  and 
in  furtherance  of  this  idea  that  a  committee  of  three  be  ap- 
pointed at  this  session,  with  instructions  to  report  to  the  1915 
session,  a  plan  for  a  suitable  semi-centennial  celebration  of  the 
founding  of  the  Order,  with  such  recommendations  as  the  com- 
mittee may  think  proper  for  the  carrying  out  of  such  plan." 

W.  N.  Cady,  Vermont,  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Executive  Committee  for  three  years. 

With  a  record  of  much  business  well  done,  the  members 
of  the  National  Grange  left  Wilmington  in  fine  spirits 
and  scattered  to  their  several  states  to  take  up  the  work 
nearer  home. 


296  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

The  forty-ninth  annual  session  of  the  National 
Grange  met  at  Oakland,  Cal.,  November  10-19,  1915. 
All  the  officers  were  present  and  thirty-one  states  were 
represented  as  at  the  last  session,  except  as  follows: 
Delaware,  F.  C.  and  Mrs.  Bancroft;  Ohio,  L.  J.  and 
Mrs.  Taber;  Pennsylvania,  J.  A.  and  Mrs.  McSparran; 
Wyoming,   Thos.   E.   Gunson. 

North  Dakota  was  entitled  to  representation,  but 
her  delegates  were  not  present. 

On  the  condition  of  the  Order,  the  Worthy  Master 
said: 

"It  is  a  pleasure  to  report  that  the  Order  is  in  a  very  healthy 
and  prosperous  condition  in  all  sections  of  our  Grange  territory. 
Newly  awakened  interests  are  being  shown  by  thousands  of  Sub- 
ordinate Granges  in  taking  up,  discussing  and  solving  those  per- 
plexing problems  which  must  be  solved  and  overcome  in  every 
neighborhood  if  the  conditions  of  the  rural  community  are  im- 
proved as  they  should  and  must  be;  thus  the  Grange  is  being 
recognized  as  a  power  for  bettering  conditions  of  the  home,  the 
community,  the  state  and  the  nation.  The  Grange  is  recognized 
by  all  as  one  of  the  greatest  factors  for  the  betterment  of  com- 
munity life.  It  is  this  recognition  for  service  that  makes  the 
action  of  the  Grange  on  all  questions  watched  with  greater  inter- 
est year  by  year.  In  our  prosperous  condition  more  is  expected 
than  ever  before." 

The  Worthy  Master  discussed  co-operation,  free  dis- 
tribution of  seed,  federal  aid  to  highway  improvement, 
farm  credit,  non-partisan  tariff  commission,  peace,  na- 
tional prohibition,  setting  out  the  oft-repeated  posi- 
tion of  the  Grange  upon  these  and  other  subjects. 

Worthy  Overseer  W.  H.  Vary  asserted  that : 

"When  men  high  in  political  life  and  those  in  executive  author- 
ity really  understand  what  this  Order  stands  for  and  its  aims  and 
purposes,  they  will  readily  give  greater  consideration  to  what  is 
said  when  our  leaders  speak.  We,  as  farmers  and  leaders  of  this 
great  organization,  have  a  right  to  be  and  are  justly  proud  of  our 
profession,  for  agriculture  is  really  and  truly  a  profession  equal, 
if  not  superior,  to  any  other  profession  or  calling,  and  one  on 
which  success  in  many  other  lines  of  business  depends.  It  has 
been  truly  said  that  when  agriculture  languishes  all  other  busi- 
ness declines." 


OLIVER  WILSOX'S  A;-  TBATION,   1914-1915        297 

The  Worthy  Treasurer  reported  the  total  resour< 
of  the  National  Grange  October  1,  1915,  to  be  $104,- 

233-79- 

The  Secretary  reported  542  new  Granges  organized 

and  twenty  dormant  Granges  reor  d  during  the 

year. 

When  the  official  program  of  the   sessions  of  the 
National    Grange-    wras    issued,    it    coi  d    the    an- 

nouncement that  November  13  would  be  Patrons'  Day 
at  the  Panama-Pacific  J .  Ltion.     In  accordance  with 

this   program,    the    Gran;  v    to    the    Exposition 

ground  in  a  body,  where  the   tnembei  '    by 

some  of  the  representatives  of  the  Board  of  Managers 
and  escorted  to  the  California  building,  Com- 

missioner Vogelsang,  who  ited  the  president  of 

the  Board  of  Man;  led  a  hearty  welcome 

and  pre  d  to  the  National  Grange  a  bronze  plaque, 

suitably  engraved.     Worthy  Master  Oliver  1  re- 

ed   it,    and    in    well-e"  led    his 

thanks  and  the  thanks  of  the  National  Gran  the 

courtesy  extended. 

The  Patrons  then  ted  different  >ns  of  the 

California  building,  where  many  court' 
them.     The  remain 
the  great  cm. 

The  usual   memorial  servi 

in  the  magnificent  chapel   1  I    Stan- 

\  Jr.,  Uni      :      y  at  Palo  All  hole 

tnbership  went  for  t:  se. 

The  Committee  on  the  Fiftieth  Anniv 
as  foil 

-nmittee 
which  we  may  properly  •'  the 

ubmit  * 
"Whereas,  The  it 
will   be  the  fiftieth 

"Wher  has  made  a  recoi 

it  may  well  be  proud  it 


298  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

"Resolved,  That  the  first  Saturday,  or  such  part  of  it  as  may 
be  needed,  after  the  opening  of  our  session  at  our  next  annual 
meeting,  be  set  aside  as  celebration  day,  and  that  our  Worthy 
Master  be  authorized  to  appoint  a  committee  of  five  whose  duty 
shall  be  to  prepare  a  program  suitable  to  the  celebration  of  this 
great  day. 

"We  further  recommend  that  this  program  committee  select 
some  one  to  write  an  address  containing  a  short  but  true  history 
of  the  organization,  growth  and  achievements  of  our  Order;  that 
this  address  be  printed  in  pamphlet  form  and  placed  in  the  Sec- 
retary's hands  for  distribution  as  Grange  literature. 

"We  would  further  recommend  that  each  State  Grange  cele- 
brate in  some  appropriate  manner  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the 
organization  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry;  also  that  each  sub- 
ordinate Grange  in  the  United  States  of  America,  on  December 
4,  1916,  or  at  its  regular  stated  meeting  in  December,  give  a  pro- 
gram fitting  the  occasion. 

"We  would  further  recommend  that  these  meetings  be  open  to 
the  public  and  that  as  much  publicity  be  given  to  our  achievement 
and  to  the  principles  of  our  Order  as  possible." 

The  Committee  on  Woman's  Suffrage  made  a  com- 
prehensive report  with  these  comments  and  recom- 
mendations: 

"On  behalf  of  the  National  Grange,  your  committee  views 
with  keen  satisfaction  the  present  encouraging  position  of  the 
woman's  suffrage  movement.  We  are  proud  of  the  fact  that  the 
Grange  was  the  first  great  body  in  this  nation  to  adopt  woman's 
suffrage,  and  to  safeguard  it  by  providing  for  the  equality  of 
women  with  men  in  the  exercise  of  all  rights,  privileges  and 
governing  powers  in  its  organic  laws.  Thus,  the  Grange,  having 
both  by  precept  and  example,  been  the  pioneers  of  this  'New  Free- 
dom,' it  is  eminently  fitting  it  should  take  a  foremost  stand  in 
the  movement  to  give  to  all  women  their  right  of  suffrage.  There- 
fore, we  recommend 

"1.  That  the  National  Grange  reaffirm  its  unqualified  indorse- 
ment of  woman's  suffrage  and  urge  all  State  Granges  to  take 
similar  action. 

"2.  That  the  National  Grange  indorse  and  support  the  move- 
ment to  secure  equal  suffrage  by  amendment  of  the  Federal  Con- 
stitution." 

While  the  National  Grange  had  many  times  indorsed 
woman's  suffrage  as  a  principle  and  recommended  its 


Oliver  Wilson's  administration,  1914-1915     299 

adoption  by  states,  this  is  the  first  time  it  had  ever 
indorsed  "equal  suffrage  by  amendment  of  the  federal 
constitution." 

In  lieu  of  several  resolutions  on  peace,  which  were 
referred  to  the  Committee  on  Peace,  it  made  the  fol- 
lowing report,  which  is  given  in  full  because  of  the 
world-wide  interest  in  the  subject  at  this  time. 

"Whereas,  There  is  a  widespread  agitation  for  the  increase  of 
the  army  and  navy,  involving  a  high  expenditure  of  money,  upon 
the  pretext  and  supposition  that  they  may  be  needed  to  defend 
this  nation  against  attack  from  other  nations,  and  this  urgent 
plea — under  the  name  of  preparedness — is  being  advocated  by 
special  interests  that  will  be  financially  benefited  thereby;  by 
those  who,  not  directly  benefited,  but  who,  through  special  priv- 
ilege have  rmassed  great  wealth  and  who  wish  to  increase  the 
army  for  their  protection;  by  those  who,  from  training,  have  a 
taste  for  militarism ;  and  by  metropolitan  newspapers  influenced 
by  the  foregoing  classes  and  by  their  advertising  patronage;  and 

"Whereas,  The  reply  to  it  all  is:  (1)  All  the  large  nations  of 
the  world  from  whom  the  United  States  has  any  reason  whatever 
to  fear  in  its  present  state  of  preparedness  are  slaughtering  each 
other  and  daily  growing  weaker  physically  and  financially;  one- 
half  their  fighting  force  is  already  killed  or  maimed  and  crippled, 
and,  within  the  probable  duration  of  the  war,  in  the  end  will  be 
in  a  pitiable  and  helpless  condition.  And  it  is  against  these  help- 
less nations  that  selfishness  and  men  who  have  lost  their  heads 
and  been  carried  off  their  feet  are  crying  out  for  preparedness. 
This  world's  war  will  close  with  public  sentiment  against  war  as  a 
means  of  settling  disputes. 

"(2)  A  nation  on  the  eastern  continent  surrounded  by  other 
nations  may  be  forced  to  arm,  so  long  as  neighboring  nations 
continue  to  do  so.  But  the  United  States  is  separated  from  them 
"by  wide  oceans  far  from  their  base  of  supplies,  and  the  reason 
for  a  nation  in  Europe  or  Asia  arming  does  not  apply  to  us. 

"(3)  Preparedness  that  will  make  us  efficient  and  strong  in 
time  of  peace  as  well  as  war,  is  a  wise,  economic,  industrial  and 
educational  policy  that  will  increase  opportunity,  encourage  thrift 
and  industry,  increasing  the  number  of  home  owners  and  tending 
to  make  a  prosperous,  happy  and  contented  people.  Instead  of 
following  a  military  policy  that  ruined  the  civilizations  of  Rome 
and  Spain,  and  is  now  destroying  that  of  the  other  nations  of 
Europe,  we  should  learn  wisdom  and  that  the  victories  of  peace 
are  greater  than  the  victories  of  war. 


300  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

"The  five  billion  dollars  contemplated  to  be  spent  on  army  and 
navy,  at  $5,000  per  mile,  would  build  one  million  miles  of  macad- 
amized pikes  in  the  United  States,  crossing  it  five  hundred  times 
from  ocean  to  ocean,  or  from  its  northern  to  its  southern  boun- 
dary, putting  the  money  among  the  people,  tending  to  make  them 
prosperous,  happy  and  contented,  to  love  their  nation  and  ready 
to  defend  it.  With  such  a  road  system  an  unlimited  number  of 
men  could  be  transferred  in  motor  cars  and  concentrated  quickly 
where  needed. 

"We  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  regular  soldier  has  no 
wife,  is  not  allowed  to  marry,  has  nothing  to  defend,  and  the 
volunteer  soldier  in  times  of  war  has  ever  excelled  him — the 
regular  soldier,  in  time  of  war,  permanently  dropping  out  of 
sight.  They  were  whipped  at  the  first  battle  of  Manassas,  in 
our  late  war,  by  volunteers,  and  were  never  heard  of  afterwards. 

"Whereas,  We  hope  the  time  will  soon  come  when  democratic 
ideals  will  prevail  over  all  the  world;  when  kings,  kaisers  and 
czars  shall  be  no  more,  and  their  crimes  shall  be  memories  of  a 
past  age;  when  the  dove  of  peace,  like  a  winged  messenger  of 
heaven,  shall  hover  over  all  the  earth. 

"Whereas,  Should  all  profit  be  taken  away  from  the  manu- 
facture of  armor  plate  and  munitions  of  war,  and  supplied  by 
government  manufacture  or  control  of  profits,  we  believe  that 
much  of  this  clamor  for  "preparedness"  would  soon  cease;  there- 
fore, be  it 

"Resolved,  Until  universal  peace  is  established,  we  favor  the 
manufacture  of  its  own  munitions  of  war  by  the  federal  govern- 
ment. 

"Resolved,  That  we  are  opposed  to  any  increase  in  the  stand- 
ing army  or  any  material  increase  in  the  navy. 

"Resolved,  That  we  approve  the  stand  the  President  has  taken 
to  maintain  peaceful  relations  with  all  nations. 

''Resolved,  While  we  recognize  the  right  of  the  government  to 
draft  men  to  protect  the  nation,  we  believe  property  rights  in- 
ferior to  human  rights,  and  that  in  event  of  war  to  repel  invasion 
or  to  protect  our  rights  on  a  foreign  soil,  we  demand  the  federal 
government  shall  assume  control  of  all  transportation  lines,  and 
all  plants  that  may  be  used  for  the  manufacture  of  the  munitions 
of  war. 

"Resolved,  That  until  such  time  as  the  confidence  in  human 
integrity  and  human  righteousness  enables  the  people  of  the 
earth  to  maintain  world-wide  peace  without  the  intervention  of 
military  and  naval  police  forces,  we  favor  the  formation  of  an 


Oliver  Wilson's  administration,  1914-1915     301 

international  police  force  to  be  contributed  to  by  all  adhering 
nations  and  to  be  under  the  direction  and  control  of  such  inter- 
national Court  of  Control  as  the  adhering  nations  may  decide." 

The  Committee  on  Resolutions,  to  which  had  been 
referred  several  resolutions  indorsing  a  nonpartisan 
tariff  commission,  made  the  following  report,  which 
was  unanimously  adopted : 

"Your  committee  has  carefully  considered  all  the  above  resolu- 
tions, and  we  recommend  the  following  briefer  statement  as  a 
substitute  therefor: 

"  hereas,  The  tariff  legislation  of  the  country  for  many  years 
has  been  unfair  to  agriculture,  and  productive  of  great  economic 
waste,  and  is  a  handicap  to  real  progress ;  and 

"Whereas,  The  time  has  come  to  demand  that  the  juggling  of 
the  tariff  for  political  advantage  or  in  the  interest  of  favored  in- 
dustries shall  cease,  and  that  future  tariff  legislation  shall  be  based 
on  ascertained  facts  and  be  in  the  interest  of  all  people.  There- 
fore, be  it 

"Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  convention  that  Congress 
shall  at  once  create  and  permanently  maintain  a  strictly  nonpar- 
tisan tariff  commission  to  make  a  full  and  impartial  investigation 
that  shall  bring  out  the  facts,  and  report  the  same  to  Congress 
from  time  to  time,  and  that  in  the  makeup  of  said  commission 
agriculture  shall  be  fully  and   fairly  represented  thereon.    And, 

"Resolved,  further,  That  the  Legislative  Committee  be  and  is 
hereby  instructed  to  do  all  it  can  to  bring  about  the  necessary 
legislation  at  the  ensuing  session  of  Congress." 

Several  resolutions  dealing  with  "farm  credits"  were 
referred  to  the  Committee  on  Resolutions,  and  after 
the  matter  had  been  extensively  discussed  it  was  re- 
ferred back  to  the  Committee  with  instructions  to 
■  formulate  the  policy  of  the  National  Grange  upon  that 
subject. 

The  Committee  reported  the  following,  which  was 
adopted : 

"Resolved,  (1)  That  after  years  of  investigation  and  a  nation- 
wide discussion  of  the  subject  of  farm  credit,  we  see  no  reason 
for  materially  changing  the  position  taken  by  the  National  Grange 
at  the  Manchester  and  Wilmington  sessions,  and  we  reaffirm 
the  same ; 

"Resolved,  (2)   That  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  National  Grange 


302  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

that  ary  legislation  for  the  purpose  of  bettering  farm  credits  is  a 
part  of  the  great  national  policy  of  conservation  of  the  food  sup- 
ply, and  as  such  the  government  of  the  Nation  should  itself  carry 
out  the  policy,  and  it  cannot  safely  be  delegated  to  private  capital 
for  exploitation  and  profit; 

"Resolved,  (3)  That  any  farm  credit  association,  which  shall 
receive  any  privilege  of  or  under  federal  or  state  law,  should  be 
composed  of  farmers  and  not  of  capitalists  of  high  finance,  who 
have  heretofore  dominated  agricultural  credit  and  created  con- 
ditions which  now  demand  relief  ; 

"Resolved,  (4)  That  any  farm  credit  plan  which  does  not  in- 
clude a  direct  reduction  of  the  'prevailing  rates'  of  interest,  as 
well  as  a  long  term  of  small  annual  payment  upon  farm  mort- 
gages, will  not  meet  agricultural  requirements  or  materially  benefit 
our  farmers; 

"Resohed,  (5)  That  no  farm  credit  law,  which  places  in  the 
hands  of  private  capital  the  power  to  make  interest  rates  on  mort- 
gage bonds,  without  limitation  by  federal  lav/,  will  meet  either 
the  needs  of  agriculture  or  the  just  demands  of  the  National 
Grange ; 

"Resolved,  (6)  That  the  government  of  the  United  States  shall 
lend  money  at  a  rate  not  to  exceed  4]/2%  to  the  farmers,  upon  30- 
year  farmland  mortgages,  with  such  provisions  as  may  be  neces- 
sary to  make  the  government  perfectly  safe,  with  the  addition  of 
an  amortization  charge  that  will  pay  the  principal  in  that  time, 
provided  that  not  more  than  $10,000  shall  be  loaned  to  any  one 
person  and  that  no  person  owning  more  than  $20,000  worth  of 
land  shall  be  entitled  to  these  privileges; 

"Resolved,  (7)  That  the  Legislative  Committee  and  officers  of 
the  Grange  throughout  the  country  are  instructed  to  insist,  on 
behalf  of  this  body,  that  more  substantial  government  aid  to 
steady  interest  rates  and  uphold  the  market  for  farm  mortgage 
bonds  shall  be  included  in  the  bill  finally  passed  by  Congress." 

The  following  officers  were  elected  for  the  next  bi- 
ennial term : 

Master — Oliver  Wilson,  Illinois. 

Overseer — W.  H.  Vary,  New  York. 

Lecturer — E.  E.  Chapman,  Massachusetts. 

Steward — F.  C.  Bancroft,  Delaware. 

Assistant  Steward — John  Morris,  Colorado. 

Chaplain — A.  P.  Reardon,  Kansas. 

Treasurer— Mrs.  E.  S.  McDowell,  Massachusetts. 

Secretary — C.  M.  Freeman,  Ohio. 

Gatekeeper — C.  L.  Rice,  Minnesota. 

Ceres — Mrs.  Eva  Sherwood,  Connecticut. 


Oliver  Wilson's  administration,  1914-1915     303 

Pomona — Mrs.  Cora  E.  Ketcham,  Michigan. 
Flora — Mrs.  Ella  R.  F.  Peckham,  Rhode  Island. 
Assistant  Steward — Mrs.  Mabel  H.  Harland,  Idaho. 
Members  of  the  Executive  Committee — C.  S.  Stetson,  W.  N.  Cady 
and  A.  B.  Judson. 

This  closes  the  story  of  the  National  Grange  up  to 
the  present.  The  fiftieth  annual  session  of  the  Na- 
tional Grange  will  be  held  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  No- 
vember, 1916,  when  the  semi-centennial  anniversary 
of  the  Order  will  be  celebrated  at  the  place  of  its 
founding. 


CHAPTER  XXVII 
What  the  Grange  Has  Achieved  in  Half  a  Century- 
After  following  the  thread  of  Grange  history  for  half 
a  century,  it  seems  appropriate  in  this  closing  chapter 
to  summarize  to  some  extent  its  aspirations  and 
achievements.  The  fact  that  the  Grange  has  been 
able  to  perpetuate  itself  and  its  machinery  of  or- 
ganization among  the  farmers  of  this  country  for  half 
a  century  is  alone  no  mean  achievement,  and  is  a  com- 
plete refutation  of  the  oft-told  story  that  the  farmers 
will  not  stick  together.  It  is  true  that  all  of  them  will 
not  stick,  but  the  Grange  is  a  demonstration  that  some 
of  them  will. 

It  has  been  said  that  "the  Grange  claims  everything 
from  the  Interstate  Commerce  Act  to  the  Anti-Sher- 
man law."  That  specific  charge  is  not  true;  but  we 
do  claim  even  more  than  that.  For  fifty  years  the 
Grange  has  indorsed,  urged  and  supported  every 
proposition  for  the  educational,  social  and  economic 
betterment  of  farm  conditions  and  agricultural 
people.  Many  progressive  things  have  been  accom- 
plished, and  agriculture  is,  in  some  measure  at  least, 
keeping  pace  with  the  up-to-now-ness  of  the  world. 

No  well-informed  person  would  claim  that  the 
Grange  is  wholly  responsible  for  any  of  these  agricul- 
tural achievements,  but  that  it  has  been  an  important, 
and,  in  many  instances,  the  dominating  factor  in  bring- 
ing them  about,  no  one  but  the  uninformed  will  deny. 
In  a  democratic  government  the  only  irresistible  force 
is  the  power  of  well-directed  public  opinion.  Upon 
all  movements  for  rural  betterment,  the  Grange, 
through  its  perfect  and  well-disciplined  machinery,  has 
been  a  leader  in  creating  that  public  opinion  which  has 

304 


WHAT  THE  GRANGE   HAS  ACHIEVED  305 

influenced  Congress,  legislatures  and  courts,  and  has 
shaken  to  its  foundations  the  old,  circumscribed,  aristo- 
cratic idea  of  education,  and  broadened  our  social  and 
economic  views. 

We  have  no  desire  to  claim  for  the  Grange  more  than 
it  is  fairly  entitled  to,  nor  is  it  possible  for  us  to  follow 
its  benign  influence  through  the  work  of  all  the  thou- 
sands of  Subordinate  and  Pomona  Granges,  or  through 
the  splendid  achievements  of  the  several  State  Granges, 
every  one  of  which  has  its  own  story  and  its  own 
meed  of  accomplishments  to  its  credit,  each  dealing 
with  the  problems  of  its  local  environment  and  its  local 
political,  social,  economic  and  educational  require- 
ments. With  all  this  the  National  Grange  has  been  in 
harmony  and  sympathy,  and  as  the  head  of  this  splen- 
did machinery  of  organization  the  State,  Pomona  and 
Subordinate  Granges  have  always  been  in  substantial 
accord. 

While  the  preceding  chapters  of  this  story  have 
mainly  followed  the  story  of  the  National  Grange  as  a 
means  of  narrowing  the  field,  it  covers,  in  a  general 
way,  the  entire  activities  of  the  Order.  In  the 
language  of  Dr.  S.  J.  Buck,  "The  Grange  Move- 
ment was  national  in  its  scope,  and  some  of  the  condi- 
tions which  it  sought  to  remedy  were  prevalent 
throughout  the  country ;  still,  the  characteristics  of  the 
movement  differed  in  the  various  sections  and  were 
conditioned  in  part  on  differences  in  the  agricultural 
situation." 

Dr.  Buck's  excellent  book  on  the  "Granger  Move- 
ment" covers  only  the  decade  from  1870  to  1880,  which 
was  the  sensational  and  undisciplined  decade  of  the 
movement;  but  the  organization  did  not  succumb  to  the 
reaction  which  he  seems  to  consider  the  end  of  the 
movement.  The  fact  is  it  cleared  its  decks  for  action; 
and  has  since  been  in  better  condition  for  real  service 
than  during  the  period  Avhen  it  had    not    yet    "found 


306  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

itself."  During  that  period  the  Grange  found  it 
impossible  to  keep  entirely  out  of  politics,  and  in  the 
public  mind  the  Granger  Movement  was  largely,  if 
not  wholly,  a  political  movement,  which  collapsed 
along  with  the  Farmers'  Alliance  and  some  other  farm- 
ers' organizations  which  went  up  in  the  political  smoke 
of  the  Populist  Party.  With  this  political  movement 
the  Grange  as  an  organization  had  nothing  to  do,  al- 
though the  excitement  growing  out  of  it  and  the  issues 
presented  by  it  had  much  to  do  with  demoralizing  the 
Grange  membership  in  many  localities.  That  the 
Grange  did  not  collapse  utterly  under  the  conditions  of 
the  times  may  certainly  be  classed  among  its  achievements. 

It  was  a  widespread  opinion  among  the  farmers  in 
the  early  years  of  the  Grange  movement  that  the  farm- 
ers were  not  represented  in  our  law-making  bodies  as 
they  should  be  and  that  their  interests  were  neglected 
or  discriminated  against.  That  was  largely  true  then, 
and  it  is  even  more  prevalent  now,  for  farmer 
representatives  in  Congress  and  our  state  legis- 
latures are  becoming  as  extinct  as  the  fabled  dodo. 
A  real  working  farmer  in  Congress  is  a  thing  of  the 
past,  and  he  is  a  rare  specimen  in  some  of  our  state 
legislatures.  For  instance,  in  West  Virginia,  in  1914, 
there  were  eighteen  candidates  for  Congress  representing 
the  three  political  parties,  and  the  farmers  of  the 
state  had  seventeen  lawyers  and  the  president  of  a 
university  to  choose  from  to  elect  six  congressmen, 
with  the  last  census  showing  eighty  per  cent  of  the 
population  as  rural.  The  outcome  was  the  election  of 
three  Republican  and  three  Democratic  lawyers.  This 
is  not  the  only  state  with  that  kind  of  record,  and 
this  is  one  of  the  discouraging  features  of  the 
so-called  rural  betterment  movement  of  the  present 
day.  The  Grange  has  done  what  it  could  without 
breaking  into  partisan  politics  to  stem  the  tide  that  has 


WHAT  THE  GRANGE  HAS  ACHIEVED  2°7 

been  setting  against  the  farmers  as  an  important  factor 
in  our  governing  citizenship. 

The  Grange  has  also  done  all  it  could  to  hold  back 
the  "landlord  and  tenant"  simoon  from  swallowing  up 
our  independent  landowning  citizenship.  The  situa- 
tion is  surely  serious  enough  when  the  best  informed 
authorities  agree  that  by  1920  more  than  half  the  farms 
— and  largely  the  best  farms — will  be  operated  by 
tenants  and  owned  by  nonresident  landlords. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  Grange,  as  might  have  been 
expected,  it  attempted  many  impractical  things,  it 
realized  that  conditions  were  wrong,  and  in  its  inex- 
perienced efforts  to  right  them  it  made  mistakes. 
But  all  the  experience,  cunning  and  unscrupulous 
chicanery  of  the  country  was  brought  to  bear  by  those 
who  feared  the  uprising  of  the  farmers  to  secure  their 
embarrassment  and  downfall.  The  Grange  ship  dragged 
her  anchor,  but  she  did  not  lose  her  moorings,  and  while 
she  has  not  yet,  and  probably  never  will,  reach  the 
shore  with  all  her  self-assumed  cargo  of  human  better- 
ment, she  is  still  afloat  on  the  ocean  of  human  hopes 
and  aspirations  and  likely  to  remain  there. 

The  Grange  did  not  set  out  to  be  a  co-operative  as- 
sociation, but  because  of  the  conditions  existing  in  the 
country  along  in  the  early  seventies  that  issue  was 
forced  upon  the  Order,  and  it  attempted  to  solve  it. 
While  it  failed  in  a  measure,  the  lessons  taught 
and  experience  gained  have  been  important  factors  in 
•  every  co-operative  enterprise  since,  and  the  doctors 
and  professors  who  are  having  so  much  to  say  nowa- 
days upon  the  subject  of  agricultural  co-operation  may 
find  every  thought  or  suggestion  they  make  in  the 
Grange  literature  of  forty  years  ago. 

We  are  told  of  the  farmers  that,  "just  as  they 
had  lost  political  power,  so  their  social  position 
had  been  lowered  until  the  tilling  of  the  soil,  formerly 
considered   one    of   the   highest   of    occupations,   has 


308  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

come  to  be  looked  upon  as  a  pursuit  suitable  only 
to  those  who  were  not  equipped  for  anything  else." 
There  are  many  causes  for  this  condition,  and  one  of 
the  fundamental  purposes  of  the  Grange  was  to  elimi- 
nate the  causes  and  cure  this  condition.  Just  bow  far 
it  has  succeeded  may  be  a  matter  of  doubt,  but  that  the 
Grange  threw  itself  into  the  breach  with  considerable 
effect  cannot  be  doubted. 

The  whole  tendency  of  our  educational  system  was 
calculated  to  aggravate  and  intensify  the  situation, 
which  the  Grange  sought  at  least  to  modify,  through 
a  reform  of  our  educational  system. 

Provision  had  been  made  for  the  establishment  of  agri- 
cultural colleges  in  1862 ;  but,  until  the  Grange  came  on 
the  scene  in  the  early  seventies,  what  a  miserable  farce 
they  were !  And  even  after  the  Grange  began  its  heroic 
fight  for  a  decent  compliance  with  the  national  law 
appropriating  the  funds  for  such  colleges,  in  many  of 
the  states  they  did  as  little  for  agriculture  as  they  could 
and  be  able  to  obtain  the  funds.  We  now  see  agricul- 
ture coming  into  its  own  in  all  the  "land  grant" 
colleges. 

The  transportation  problem,  involving  all  the 
abuses  of  the  railroad  development,  was  brought  into 
the  limelight  and  a  fight  put  up  by  the  Grange  in  the 
State  Legislatures,  in  the  courts  and  in  Congress, 
which  culminated  in  the  decision  of  the  courts  that  the 
creature  could  not  be  greater  than  the  creator,  the 
creation  of  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission,  and 
the  establishment  of  the  principle  of  the  right  of  the 
government  to  control  public  utilities.  Of  course,  the 
Grange  was  not  the  only  influence  that  brought  this 
about,  but  that  it  had  a  tremendous  influence  upon  it 
no  student  of  the  subject  can  deny. 

The  farmers  found  themselves  confronted  with  or- 
ganizations of  capital  in  every  department  of  business 
with  which,  as  individuals,  they  were  helpless  to  cope, 
and  counter  organization  held  out  the  only  hope  of 


WHAT  THE  GRANGE  HAS  ACHIEVED  309 

relief.  All  the  tariff,  currency  and  taxation  legislation 
was  influenced  in  the  interest  of  others  and  against  the 
farmers.  That  the  farmers  should  attempt  to  counter- 
act all  this  by  organization  is  not  to  be  wondered  at. 

The  existing  conditions  put  the  farmers  in  a  frame 
of  mind  to  grasp  at  any  straw,  and  the  wonderful 
growth  of  the  Grange  in  the  seventies  was  the  result. 
Self-seeking  demagogues  wormed  their  way  into  the 
Order,  and  when  they  could  not  use  it  they  sought  to 
kill  it,  and  in  many  places  succeeded  entirely.  That 
the  Grange  did  not  perish,  but  held  fast  to  the  princi- 
ples of  right  and  eternal  justice  must  not  be  put  down 
as  one  of  the  least  of  the  Grange  achievements. 

As  Mr.  Aiken  tells  us,  "Everybody  wanted  to  join 
the  Grange  then — lawyers  to  get  clients,  doctors  to 
get  patients,  merchants  to  get  customers,  Shylocks  to 
get  their  pound  of  flesh,  and  sharpers  to  catch  the  babes 
in  the  woods."  The  Grange  has  never  been  able  to 
entirely  absolve  itself  from  that  kind  of  membership, 
and  even  now,  at  the  end  of  half  a  century,  it  needs 
to  beware.  A  little  more  of  the  real  farmer  and  a  little 
less  of  anyone  else  would  be  wholesome. 

The  Grange  grew  entirely  too  rapidly  for  its  own 
good  in  the  early  days,  and  a  reaction  must  come  to 
squeeze  out  the  flood  of  undesirables.  The  full  effects 
of  this  was  seen  during  the  eighties,  when  bankruptcy 
and  final  dissolution  stared  the  National  Grange  in  the 
face,  and  many  State  Granges  and  thousands  of 
Subordinate  Granges  dropped  out.  It  was  then  that 
the  hyena  laugh  of  the  "kept  press'"'  and  the  cohorts  of 
special  privilege,  was  heard  in  the  land.  "The  Grange 
is  dead — long  live  Special  Privilege,"  was  the  sub- 
conscious wail. 

At  the  head  of  the  Grange  and  all  along  down 
through  the  ranks  of  the  Order  were  far-seeing,  patri- 
otic, loyal  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  who  set  themselves 
to  work  to  save  the   Order  from   the   attacks  of   its 


310  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

enemies  and  from  the  dissensions  within  the  ranks  of 
its  misguided  friends.  With  a  steady  hand  and  a  con- 
structive statesmanship  the  work  of  rebuilding  the 
Order  was  persisted  in. 

While  the  Grange  succeeded  in  keeping  out  of  any 
serious  political  entanglements,  it  had  a  wonderful 
influence  in  freeing  its  members  from  partisan  prej- 
udice until  President  Grant,  in  his  Message  to  Con- 
gress in  December,  1873,  made  the  statement  that 
"Political  partisanship  has  almost  ceased  to  exist, 
especially  in  the  agricultural  regions." 

Among  the  important  accomplishments  of  the 
Grange  was  its  patriotic  effort  to  allay  the  sectional 
strife  and  bitter  animosities  growing  out  of  the  Civil 
War.  Although  it  did  not  bring  them  all  into  one  great 
brotherhood,  as  Mr.  Kelley  had  hoped,  it  certainly  did 
much  to  allay  this  bitterness  among  the  farmers  of  the 
two  sections. 

Many  of  the  state  legislatures  enacted  reform  laws 
which  were  advocated  by  the  Grange  and  other  farm- 
ers' organizations,  and  which  were  considered  very 
radical  at  the  time,  but  most  of  them  have  been  sus- 
tained by  the  courts,  and  have  become  the  basis 
of  much  subsequent  legislation  in  the  interest  of  the 
people.  It  is  impossible  even  to  name  all  these  sub- 
jects of  legislation  here,  but  the  statutes  of  many  of 
the  states  are  full  of  them.  The  Granger  railroad  leg- 
islation alone  in  some  of  the  central  western  states 
would  fill  volumes,  and  the  same  influence  spread  into 
all  the  states  from  Maine  to  Oregon. 

The  Grange  was  organized  primarily  as  a  social  and 
educational  order,  and  while  it  ultimately  covered  a 
much  wider  field,  as  we  have  seen,  it  certainly  did 
much  to  break  up  the  isolation  of  farm  life,  and  having 
provided  for  the  admission  of  women  and  children  down 
to  fourteen  years  of  age  on  a  full  equality,  it  partook 
largely  of  the  character  of  an  enlarged  family.    It  was 


WHAT  THE  GRANGE  HAS  ACHIEVED  3II 

the  first  secret  order  to  admit  women  on  an  equality 
with  men,  and  while  it  has  never  been  a  woman  suf- 
frage propaganda,  there  can  be  but  little  doubt  but  the 
teaching  and  practices  of  the  Grange  have  done  much 
to  promote  that  cause.  Undoubtedly  the  Order  offered 
to  women  even  more  than  men  an  opportunity  for 
broader  service  and  the  cultivation  of  the  social  graces. 
This  alone  is  no  mean  achievement. 

The  Grange  was  not  intended  as  a  "benefit"  or 
"charitable  institution,"  but  it  inculcated  the  principle 
of  charity  throughout  its  membership,  and,  first  and 
last,  large  sums  have  been  expended  by  Subordinate, 
State  and  National  Granges  for  charity.  On  the  part 
of  the  National  Grange  at  least  its  liberality  in  that 
direction  was  greatly  abused.  County  fairs  were 
established  in  many  places,  agricultural  and  Grange 
newspapers  were  established,  and  in  practically  all  the 
states  some  form  of  state  department  of  agriculture 
was  created  and  farmers'  institute  work  begun  through 
Grange  influence. 

The  Grange  led  in  the  fight  against  the  extension  of 
patents  on  sewing  machines  and  farm  machinery, 
thereby  very  much  reducing  their  price  to  consumers. 
Tt  also,  through  the  courts  and  legislatures,  established 
the  protection  of  innocent  purchasers  of  patented 
articles. 

"The  Granger  Movement,"  says  Dr.  Buck,  "was 
primarily  a  movement  for  agricultural  organization  for 
the  advancement  of  the  welfare  of  farmers  in  every 
possible  way — socially,  intellectually,  politically  and 
economically — by  concerted  effort.  It  was,  moreover, 
the  first  attempt  at  agricultural  organization  on  a  large 
scale,  but  it  was  far  from  being  the  last,  and  the  ideas 
and  ideals,  if  not  the  direct  influence,  of  the  Patrons  of 
Husbandry  can  be  traced  in  every  one  of  the  later  or- 
ganizations," and  it  may  be  added  that  the  Grange 
still  remains  the  balance  wheel  of  all  of  them,  and  as 


312  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

a  rule  they  weaken  themselves  just  in  proportion  as 
they  depart  from  Grange  ideals.  The  Grange  has  al- 
ways extended  the  hand  of  fellowship  to  other  farmers' 
organizations,  but  has  consistently  avoided  "entangling 
alliances"  with  any  of  them. 

The  Grange  early  began  agitation  for  the  elevation 
of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  to  a  cabinet  posi- 
tion, and  insisted  upon  it  in  the  face  of  bitter  opposition 
until  it  was  secured.  Perhaps  this  would  have  come 
about  in  the  course  of  time  if  there  had  been  no  Grange 
agitation,  but  it  is  just  as  easy  and  just  as  fair  to  say 
the  colonies  would  have  gained  their  independence 
at  some  time  if  there  had  been  no  "Boston  Tea  Party," 
and  that  someone  else  would  have  been  the  "father 
of  his  country"  if  Washington  had  never  been  born. 
All  we  have  ever  claimed  for  the  Grange  is  that  it  was 
a  leader  of  agricultural  thought,  which  it  crystallized 
and  made  potent  through  organized  influences. 

As  early  as  1880  the  Grange  began  the  agitation  for 
the  teaching  of  agriculture  in  the  public  schools,  and 
the  idea  was  laughed  at  by  so-called  educators  every- 
where, but  the  Grange  persisted,  until  now  it  has  be- 
come popular  and  the  educators  are  claiming  to  be  the  dis- 
coverers of  the  idea.  Educators  sometimes  blind  them- 
selves kicking  up  the  dust  about  the  catacombs  of 
Rome  instead  of  the  dust  of  the  field,  and  the 
world  is  fast  coming  to  realize  that  some  knowl- 
edge of  the  milky  way  of  the  Jersey  cow  is  more 
important  than  knowledge  of  the  milky  way  that  spans 
the  heavens ;  and  the  Grange  is  largely  responsible  for 
this  change. 

The  Grange  is  not  a  temperance  society,  but  it  has 
always  taught  and  enforced  temperance  among  its  own 
members,  and  has  gone  on  record  scores  of  times  in 
favor  of  prohibition,  local,  state-wide  and  nation-wide ; 
and  that  it  has  had  considerable  influence  in  creating 
sentiment  in  favor  of  prohibition,  it  would  be  ridiculous 


WHAT  THE  GRANGE  HAS  ACHIEVED  313 

to  deny.  The  Grange  has  always  opposed  fraud  and 
adulteration  in  human  foods,  and  took  an  active  part  in 
securing  oleomargarine  legislation  to  prevent  that  manu- 
factured commodity  from  being  sold  as  butter. 

The  Grange  took  an  active  part  in  securing  the  law 
creating  agricultural  experiment  stations,  and  later 
was  active  in  securing  federal  appropriations  for  agri- 
cultural extension  and  demonstration  work. 

Ballot  reform  was  advocated  by  the  Grange  in  all 
the  states,  and  it  has  everywhere  advocated  "corrupt 
practice"  laws  and  the  greatest  possible  protection  to 
our  ballot  system.  It  supported  with  all  its  might  the 
passage  of  the  anti-trust  law,  and  has  ever  since  sought 
to  improve  and  strengthen  it.  It  favored  the  creation 
of  the  Department  of  Commerce  and  the  Department 
of  Labor,  with  their  heads  as  members  of  the  Presi- 
dent's Cabinet. 

Among  the  most  important  achievements  of  the 
Grange  should  be  placed  the  establishment  of  free 
rural  mail  delivery,  and  like  it,  though  of  less  im- 
portance to  rural  people,  postal  savings  banks ;  and 
one  of  the  most  splendid  victories  of  all  was  the 
securing  of  a  parcels  post.  We  cannot  go  into  these 
matters  in  detail,  but  that  the  influence  of  the  Grange 
was  a  dominant  factor  in  securing  them  no  well-informed 
person  will  doubt.  All  these  measures  have  abun- 
dantly vindicated  themselves.  A  government-owned- 
and-operated  telegraph  and  telephone  service  is  being 
strongly  urged  upon  Congress  now. 

The  election  of  United  States  senators  by  the  people 
was  early  advocated  by  the  Grange ;  and  the  securing 
of  fairer  treatment  at  the  hands  of  money  lenders,  and 
a  lower  rate  of  interest  for  farmers  have  been  advo- 
cated by  the  Grange  from  the  first,  which  culminated 
in  the  "rural  credit"  agitation,  which  has  been  enacted 
into  law.    All  these  things  and  many  more,  as  we  have 


314  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

seen,  have  had  the  powerful  support  and  influence 
of  the  Grange. 

With  this  we  close  the  record  of  the  past,  with  all 
its  heroism,  loyalty,  and  unselfish  devotion  to  ideals. 
Commemorating  the  splendid  achievements  of  half  a 
century,  the  Grange  has  planned  a  semi-centennial  cele- 
bration of  the  founding  of  the  Order  at  Washington, 
the  place  of  the  birth  of  the  Order  of  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandry, at  the  fiftieth  annual  meeting  of  the  National 
Grange  in  November,  1916.  All  the  Founders  and 
practically  all  the  early  leaders  of  the  movement 
have  passed  away,  leaving  behind  them  to  the  farmers 
of  the  country  this  goodly  heritage — The  Order  of 
Patrons  of  Husbandry — which  shall  live  after  us,  if  we 
do  our  duty  as  they  did  theirs,  to  bless  generations  of 
farmers  and  their  families  who  live  amid  the  fields,  in 
the  valleys  and  on  the  hills  of  our  country. 

A  contemplation  of  the  achievements  of  the  past, 
however  great  and  important,  would  be  sad  indeed  if 
it  did  not  furnish  inspiration  and  hope  for  the  future. 
Standing  at  the  top  of  this  half  century  of  Grange  his- 
tory, we  look  across  the  next  half  century  to  the 
hundredth  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  this 
Order,  and  see  emblazoned  upon  a  banner  the  long 
list  of  Grange  achievements  in  a  hundred  years. 
We  will  not  be  there — only  those  who  are  children  now 
or  those  who  are  yet  unborn  will  be  there  then,  but  if 
we  do  our  work  well,  it  will  be  there  to  shout  back 
across  the  years  and  the  times  and  places :  "Well  done, 
good  and  faithful  servants !"  God  bless  the  Grange  for 
all  its  splendid  work  of  the  past,  and  guide  it  in  its 
work  of  human  righteousness,  and  keep  it  a  champion 
of  better  life  and  better  living  in  the  open  country ! 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES 
OLIVER  HUDSON  KELLEY 

One  of  the  Founders  and  Secretary  of  the  National 

Grange 

Oliver  Hudson  Kelley  was  born  in  Boston,  January 
7,  1826.  He  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  that  city,  finishing  with  a  course  in  Chauncey  Hall 
School.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  went  to 
Chicago  and  took  a  position  as  a  clerk  in  a  drug  store, 
at  the  same  time  acting  as  a  reporter  for  the  Chicago 
Tribune.  He  remained  in  Chicago  only  about  six  months, 
going  from  there  to  Peoria,  where  he  obained  employ- 
ment in  a  telegraph  office.  He  was  present  in  the  office 
when  Rufus  Chadwick  installed  the  relay  magnet,  and, 
not  having  received  a  register,  took  messages  from 
St.  Louis  by  sound — a  wonderful  thing  in  those  days, 
and  probably  the  first  instance  of  the  kind. 

In  August,  1848,  Mr.  Kelley  was  transferred  to 
Bloomington,  la.,  but  about  a  year  after  that  he  gave 
up  the  business  of  telegraphy  and  went  to  Itasca,  in 
the  northern  part  of  Minnesota.  There  he  took  up  a 
claim  of  government  land  and  established  a  trade  with 
the  Indians.  The  trade  was  continued  until  the  mak- 
ing of  a  new  treaty  removed  the  Indians  from  the 
vicinity.  He  was  the  second  person  in  the  state  to  be 
initiated  into  the  Order  of  Free  Masonry,  and  was  the 
oldest  living  member  present  at  the  jubilee  celebration 
held  in  Minnesota  in  1899. 

He  was  married  in  1852  to  Miss  Temperance  Lane  of 
Boston,  who  had  gone  from  her  native  city  to  Minne- 
sota to  teach.  They  had  four  daughters.  Mrs.  Kelley 
passed  away  in  May,  1912. 

315 


316  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

Mr.  Kelley  continued  on  his  farm  until  1864,  when 
he  went  to  Washington  and  obtained  a  clerkship  in 
the  Department  of  Agriculture.  In  1866  he  was  hon- 
ored by  a  commission  which  took  him  through  the 
southern  states  to  inquire  into  agricultural  conditions 
and  needs.  From  this  trip  he  returned  profoundly  im- 
pressed with  the  particular  need  of  organized  action 
on  the  part  of  the  farmers  of  the  country. 

The  story  of  his  life  for  the  five  years  following  the 
return  from  the  South  is  interwoven  with  the  history 
of  the  Grange.  He  has  partly  told  the  story  in  his 
"History  of  the    Patrons  of  Husbandry,"   printed    in 

1875. 

Mr.  Kelley  was  made  Secretary  of  the  National 
Grange  when  it  consisted  solely  of  the  Founders,  their 
families,  and  a  few  friends,  and  started  out  to  organize 
Granges  with  his  "railroad  ticket  to  Harrisburg  and 
$2.50  of  Grange  funds  in  his  pocket,"  against  the  pro- 
tests of  his  associates.  Handicapped  as  he  was  by  lack 
of  funds,  his  success  was  extraordinary,  and  Granges 
soon  sprang  up  as  by  magic. 

At  the  first  representative  meeting  of  the  National 
Grange,  held  in  Mr.  Kelley's  home,  in  February,  1873, 
he  was  elected  Secretary  for  a  term  of  three  years,  and 
was  re-elected  twice,  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  in  Novem- 
ber, 1875,  and  in  Cincinnati,  O.,  in  1877,  tne  official 
term  having  been  changed  from  three  to  two  years. 

In  1875,  he  removed  the  office  and  his  family  from 
Washington  to  Louisville.  Later  he  became  tempted  by 
dazzling  offers  of  land  in  Florida  and  invested  in  a 
large  tract  of  land  in  the  northern  portion  of  that  state 
near  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  He  removed  the  Secretary's 
office  to  Carrabelle,  Fla.,  and  went  there  to  live  with  his 
family.  In  the  new  work  of  developing  the  country  he 
had  not  the  time  to  give  to  the  Grange  that  the  work 
demanded,  and  at  the  twelfth  annual  session,  held  in 
Richmond,  Va.,  he  resigned  his  office.     He  returned 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES  3I7 

to  Washington  to  spend  his  last  years.     He  died  in 
1913,  in  his  eighty-seventh  year. 

In  founding  and  promoting  the  great  farmers'  fra- 
ternity, which  has  been  a  blessing  to  millions  of  coun- 
try people,  he  made  his  name  immorcal. 

WILLIAM  SAUNDERS 

One  of  the  Founders  and  First  Master  of  the 
National  Grange 

William  Saunders  was  born  in  St.  Andrews,  Scot- 
land, where  he  received  the  greater  part  of  his  educa- 
tion. His  paternal  ancestors  for  at  least  three  genera- 
tions had  been  noted  gardeners.  His  father  was  gar- 
dener for  Sir  David  Baird,  and  William,  when  a  boy, 
lived  and  worked  in  the  beautiful  gardens  belonging  to 
the  estate. 

It  was  the  family  ambition  to  make  him  a  minister, 
and  after  a  preliminary  education  at  Madras  he  was 
sent  to  the  St.  Mary's  Divinity  School,  but  the  instinct 
of  the  gardener  was  too  strong  to  overcome  and  he 
left  the  school  before  finishing  the  course  to  become 
a  journeyman  to  an  expert  gardener.  Later  he  took 
a  course  in  horticulture  at  the  College  of  Edinburgh. 

In  1848,  he  married  Miss  Martha  Mildwaters,  and 
together  they  came  to  America.  His  first  position  in 
this  country  was  with  Mr.  Bostwick  at  New  Haven, 
Conn.,  as  gardener.  He  soon  became  an  authority  on 
horticulture  and  a  contributor  to  the  horticultural  pub- 
lications of  the  country,  and  was  assistant  editor  of  the 
Horticulturist  for  many  years. 

In  1854,  Mr.  Saunders  formed  a  partnership  with 
Thomas  Mehan  at  Germantown,  Pa.,  in  the  business 
of  landscape  gardening  and  horticulture. 

In  1862,  he  accepted  an  appointment  in  the  United 
States  Department  of  Agriculture,  where  he  continued 
to  the  end  of  his  life.    The  value  of  his  services  to  the 


31**  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

Department  of  Agriculture  cannot  be  estimated,  and 
it  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  limits  of  this  sketch  pre- 
clude a  full  account  of  those  services. 

It  was  Mr.  Saunders  who  gave  to  the  country  the 
complete  and  beautiful  design  of  the  National  Ceme- 
tery at  Gettysburg,  and  he  also  designed  the  cemetery 
at  Springfield,  111.,  the  grounds  about  the  Lincoln 
Monument,  and  many  other  parks  and  public  grounds. 

In  the  American  Farmer,  Mr.  Saunders,  in  1855,  out- 
lined his  idea  of  an  organization  of  farmers  very  sim- 
ilar to  that  adopted  by  the  founders  of  the  Grange,  ex- 
cept the  secret  work  and  ritual  service.  When  O.  H. 
Kelley  returned  from  his  southern  trip  with  the  idea 
of  a  secret  farmers'  fraternity,  he  was  advised  by  some 
of  his  friends  to  see  Mr.  Saunders,  which  he  did,  and 
found  him  about  to  start  on  a  tour  of  investigation  in 
agricultural  communities,  where  he  expected  to  meet 
many  prominent  agriculturists.  Mr.  Saunders  became 
interested  and  persuaded  Mr.  Kelley  to  draw  up  an 
outline  of  his  plan,  which  he  took  with  him,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  interesting  some  of  his  friends  in  the  pro- 
posed organization. 

On  December  4,  1867,  a  meeting  was  held  in  Mr. 
Saunders'  office  in  Washington,  where  the  National 
Grange  was  organized.  Mr.  Saunders  was  elected 
Master  and  Mr.  Kelley  was  made  Secretary.  It 
was  decided  to  prepare  and  to  send  out  an 
official  circular  stating  the  objects  of  the  Order, 
and  to  Mr.  Saunders  fell  the  task  of  preparing  it.  Mr. 
Saunders  was  from  the  beginning  an  advocate  of  wom- 
an's admission  to  the  Grange  on  an  equal  footing  with 
men. 

When  Mr.  Kelley  started  out  on  his  first  effort  to 
organize  Granges  he  found  Mr.  Saunders'  name  a 
"tower  of  strength"  in  Minnesota  and  elsewhere  where 
Mr.  Saunders  was  known. 

He  served  six  years  as  Master  during  the  creative 
period  of  the  Order,  and  many  of  the  most  beautiful 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES  319 

thoughts  of  the  ritual  are  from  his  pen.  A  large  por- 
tion of  the  first  four  degrees  was  written  by  him  and  the 
preamble  to  the  Constitution.  The  Order  is  under  lasting 
obligations  to  him  for  his  worK  in  its  behalf. 

At  the  first  representative  meeting  in  January,  1873, 
which  has  been  designated  the  sixth  annual  meeting, 
Mr.  Saunders  retired  from  the  office  of  Master,  but 
served  as  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee  for 
several  years. 

He  died  in  September,  1900,  being  the  fifth  of  the 
seven  Founders  of  the  Order  to  pass  away. 

JOHN  RICHARDSON  THOMPSON 
One  of  the  Founders  of  the  Grange 

John  Richardson  Thompson  was  born  in  Littleton, 
N.  H.,  in  1833.  His  boyhood  and  early  manhood  were 
spent  on  the  farm  in  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont, 
where  the  family  made  their  home. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  War  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany K,  15th  Vermont  Volunteers.  He  was  made 
lieutenant  and  promoted  from  time  to  time  until  he 
was  transferred  to  the  staff  of  Gen.  Stannard  with  the 
rank  of  colonel.  Soon  after  the  war  he  obtained  an 
appointment  in  the  Treasury  Department,  which  he 
held  for  many  years. 

He  was  probably  the  first  man  with  whom  Mr.  Kelley 
talked  about  his  idea  of  a  farmers'  organization,  and 
he  was  the  first  person  who  became  actively  interested 
in  the  plan.  He  was  an  active  participant  in  the  or- 
ganization from  the  beginning. 

At  the  first  formal  meeting  of  the  Founders  of  the 
Order,  November  15,  1867,  Mr.  Thompson  was  pres- 
ent, and  on  his  motion  they  adjourned  to  December  4 
to  elect  officers  and  establish  the  Order.  At  this  meet- 
ing, which  was  later  recognized  as  the  birthday  of  the 
Order,  Mr.  Thompson  was  made  Lecturer,  and  later, 


320  PATRONS  OF    HUSBANDRY 

when  Mr.  Ireland  resigned  the  office  of  Treasurer,  he 
was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  married  twice.  His  first  wife 
died  in  Vermont,  leaving  one  daughter,  his  only  child. 
After  the  close  of  the  Civil  War  he  married  Miss  Mary 
Herendon  of  Onondaga,  N.  Y.,  who  died  in  1881.  Mr. 
Thompson  died  in  December,  1893,  loved  by  his  friends 
and  honored  by  members  of  the  Grange  everywhere. 

Mrs.  McDowell,  who  knew  him  well,  says:  "Mr. 
Thompson  was  an  enthusiastic  ritualist,  a  brilliant 
writer  and  a  talented  originator.  It  is  to  him  that  we 
owe  the  beautiful  work  of  the  Sixth  and  Seventh  De- 
gree Rituals  and  much  of  their  plan."  Mr.  Thompson 
received  a  vote  of  thanks  for  the  Ritual  of  the  Sixth 
Degree  from  the  National  Grange.  He  also  wrote  a 
part  of  the  Ritual  of  the  lower  degrees,  and  re- 
vised and  corrected  them  all.  He  was  a  Mason  of  high 
degree  and  well  informed  as  to  rites  and  ceremonies. 
He  was  a  man  of  strong  friendships  and  loved  by  all 
his  friends. 

JOHN  TRIMBLE 

One  of  the  Founders  and  Secretary  of  the  National 

Grange 

John  Trimble  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  in  183 1.  His 
father  was  also  named  John,  and  was  for  many  years 
a  professor  in  Kenyon  College,  Gambier,  O.,  where 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  lived  for  much  of  his  youth. 
He  received  his  education  in  New  Jersey,  and  studied 
for  the  ministry  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church, 
receiving  at  some  time  during  his  active  ministry  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  He  was  actively  engaged 
in  church  work  until  the  partial  failure  of  his  health 
compelled  him  to  relinquish  it.    He  then  devoted  his 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES  321 

time  and  energies  to  educational  work,  and  was  for 
several  years  in  charge  of  a  large  school  in  Kentucky. 
That  school  was  broken  up  by  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
War,  and  he  then  returned  with  his  family  to  the 
North,  and  subsequently  made  his  home  in  Washing- 
ton, D.  C. 

For  some  years  he  filled  the  position  of  clerk  in  the 
Treasury  Department,  in  the  division  devoted  to  the 
settlement  of  war  claims.  Later  he  resigned  that  posi- 
tion and  acted  as  agent  for  the  collection  of  war  claims 
for  several  of  the  states. 

He  became  acquainted  with  O.  H.  Kelley,  and  very 
early  in  the  movement  became  interested  in  the  pro- 
posed farmers'  organization.  During  the  early  years 
of  the  Order  he  refused  to  accept  any  office,  but  he  was 
a  wise  and  trusted  adviser  during  the  formative  period 
of  the  Grange. 

Some  time  after  the  election  of  Mr.  Ireland  as  Sec- 
retary of  the  National  Grange  Dr.  Trimble  became  his 
assistant,  thus  giving  Mr.  Ireland  time  for  his  personal 
affairs.  He  then  had  charge  of  the  Secretary's  office 
in  Washington,  and  cared  for  the  correspondence,  kept 
the  books,  etc.  When  the  National  Grange  met  in 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  in  1884,  in  its  eighteenth  annual  ses- 
sion, Mr.  Ireland  did  not  appear,  giving  as  the  reason 
urgent  business  matters  which  could  not  be  postponed. 
It  therefore  devolved  upon  Dr.  Trimble  to  report  the 
proceedings,  which  he  did  ably  and  correctly.  On  the 
28th  of  the  following  March  Mr.  Ireland  tendered  his 
resignation  to  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Na- 
tional Grange,  and  the  committee  accepted  it  and  ap- 
pointed Dr.  Trimble  to  fill  the  vacancy.  The  action  of 
the  committee  was  confirmed  at  the  next  regular  meet- 
ing of  the  National  Grange  by  the  almost  unanimous 
election  of  Dr.  Trimble.  He  held  the  office  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  December  30,  1902,  having  filled 
the  position  for  nearly  eighteen  years. 


322  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

Dr.  Trimble  was  married  in  1855  to  Miss  Emily  J. 
Trimble  of  Kentucky.  Although  she  had  the  same 
family  name  they  were  not  related.  They  had  two 
children,  a  son  and  a  daughter.  He  had  no  enemies  in 
the  Order ;  brothers  and  sisters  might  dispute  so  hotly 
over  various  questions  that  their  fraternal  relations 
became  rather  strained,  but  all  united  in  love  and  rev- 
erence for  the  Secretary.  At  the  last  meeting  which 
he  attended,  which  closed  about  six  weeks  before  his 
death,  there  were  many  sad  hearts,  because  of  his 
growing  feebleness.  None  who  were  present  will  for- 
get the  touching  scenes  of  the  last  days  of  the  session, 
nor  fail  to  remember  his  cheerful  and  cordial  farewell. 
He  was  the  sixth  of  the  Founders  to  pass  away. 

FRANCIS  MARION  McDOWELL 

One  of  the  Founders  and  Treasurer  of  the  National 

Grange 

Francis  Marion  McDowell  was  born  in  Wayne 
County,  N.  Y.,  in  1831.  His  education  was  received 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  town,  and  in  the 
old  institution  in  Alfred,  N.  Y.,  which  has  since  become 
known  as  Alfred  University.  After  leaving  Alfred,  he 
taught  for  a  short  time  in  the  common  schools  in  his 
home  town,  but,  not  finding  teaching  his  natural  voca- 
tion, he  went,  at  about  the  age  of  twenty,  to  New 
York,  where  he  became  a  partner  in  the  banking  and 
brokerage  firm  of  Hallett  &  Co.  He  continued  with 
the  firm  for  some  years,  and  during  his  connection 
with  it  he  was  sent  several  times  to  Europe  for  the 
purpose  of  interesting  European  capitalists  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  Kansas  Pacific  Railway,  his  firm  being 
responsible  for  the  building  of  a  large  portion  of  that 
road.  While  in  London  he  met  Miss  Josephine  Spang 
of  Philadelphia,  and  they  were  married  there.  She 
died  not  many  years  later. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES  323 

In  the  early  sixties  Mr.  McDowell  had  a  severe  ill— 
nes,  from  which  he  did  not  make  a  good  recovery,  and 
it  soon  became  evident  that  he  must  seek  health  in  out- 
of-door  occupations.  He  therefore  returned  to  his 
native  home  and  became  engaged  in  grape  growing  on 
the  shores  of  Lake  Keuka.  The  industry  was  then  in 
its  infancy,  but  he  lived  to  see  it  grow  to  immense  pro- 
portions, the  region  being  especially  adapted  by  nature 
to  the  growing  of  this  delicious  fruit. 

It  was  at  a  fruit  fair,  in  Hammondsport,  N.  Y.,  that 
he  met  Mr.  William  Saunders,  who  had  been  sent  out 
by  the  Bureau  of  Agriculture  in  Washington  to  inves- 
tigate the  grape  industry  in  behalf  of  the  government. 
The  two  men  became  friends  at  once,  and  he  invited 
Mr.  Saunders  to  his  home  over  Sunday.  During  the 
visit  Mr.  Saunders  spoke  to  him  of  the  Grange  move- 
ment, just  beginning,  and  it  was  characteristic  of  Mr. 
McDowell's  disposition  that  he  should  wish  to  help. 
He  expressed  the  wish  to  Mr.  Saunders,  with  the  result 
that  he  went  to  Washington  in  the  following  winter, 
became  very  actively  interested  in  the  work  and  asso- 
ciated with  the  other  six  as  one  of  the  Founders. 

It  was  Mr.  McDowell  who  suggested  that  the  or- 
ganization should  have  a  central  division  to  protect  the 
work  from  being  broken  up,  and  varying  with  different 
localities,  and  he  therefore  proposed  the  Seventh  De- 
gree, to  be  modeled  somewhat  after  the  ancient  Old 
World  ceremonies  in  honor  of  the  goddess  of  agricul- 
ture. The  suggestion  was  accepted,  and,  later,  Mr. 
Thompson,  consulting  with  Mr.  McDowell,  wrote  the 
Ritual  as  it  stands  today. 

He  was  elected  Treasurer  at  the  first  representative 
session  of  the  National  Grange,  held  in  Georgetown,  in 
February,  1873.  He  was  the  third  Treasurer  of  the 
National  Grange,  although  generally  spoken  of  as  the 
first. 

In  December,  1874,  he  married  Miss  Eva  Sherwood 
of  Woodhull,  N.  Y.     Immediately  after  the  marriage 


324  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

Mrs.  McDowell  became  a  member  of  the  Grange  and 
has  been  actively  interested  in  the  Order  ever  since. 
There  is  one  child,  a  daughter. 

Mr.  McDowell  held  the  office  of  Treasurer  for  twenty 
years,  until  his  health,  which  had  never  been  robust, 
showed  indications  of  complete  failure.  At  the  twenty- 
seventh  session  of  the  National  Grange,  held  in  Syra- 
cuse, N.  Y.,  in  November,  1893,  he  gave  up  the  posi- 
tion for  that  reason. 

Mrs.  McDowell  was  elected  as  his  successor,  and 
has  held  the  office  ever  since.  Up  to  the  time  Mrs. 
McDowell  was  re-elected  in  November,  191 5,  she  and 
her  husband  had  held  the  office  of  Treasurer  for  forty- 
two  years,  and  her  present  term  makes  forty-four  years. 

Mr.  McDowell's  share  in  the  construction  of  the 
Order  was  the  building  up  of  a  sound,  financial  system 
and  the  conservation  of  the  ideals  of  its  Founders,  two 
things  which  he  had  very  much  at  heart.  He  depre- 
cated the  idea,  which  had  a  considerable  following  in 
the  beginning,  that  the  Order  should  keep  itself  poor 
and  discourage  the  accumulation  of  money.  "Do  not 
be  fearful,"  he  would  say,  "of  having  a  little  money  to 
work  with.  The  possession  of  a  bank  account  will 
bring  you  a  patient  hearing  and  give  you  the  respect 
of  those  with  whom  your  business  brings  you  in  con- 
tact, and  it  will  enable  you  to  do  something  toward 
eliminating  the  disadvantages  under  which  the  farmer 
has  always  labored."  He  never  missed  attending  a 
National  Grange  session  from  the  beginning  until  the 
time  of  his  death  in  March,  1894,  when  he  passed  to  the 
Great  Beyond. 

WILLIAM  M.  IRELAND 

One  of  the  Founders  and  Secretary  of  the  National 

Grange 

William  M.  Ireland  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
but  lived  for  many  years  in  Washington,  D.  C,  where 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES  325 

he  held  for  several  years  the  office  of  chief  clerk  in  one 
of  the  offices  in  the  Postoffice  Department.  It  was 
there  Mr.  Kelley  became  acquainted  with  him  and 
enlisted  his  services  in  the  proposed  Order  for  farmers 
and  their  families. 

Mr.  Ireland  was  an  active  member  of  the  Masonic 
Order,  and  his  knowledge  of  systems  and  methods  in 
fraternal  Orders  was  of  great  value  in  the  formative 
period  of  the  Grange  organization. 

At  the  organization  of  Potomac  Grange  No.  1,  which 
was  organized  at  Washington  for  the  purpose  of  prac- 
ticing the  degree  work,  Mr.  Ireland  was  made  Master, 
and  on  the  organization  of  the  National  Grange  he  was 
offered  the  same  office,  but  declined  and  suggested  Mr. 
Saunders. 

He  was  the  first  Treasurer  of  the  National  Grange, 
which  office  he  held  for  about  three  years,  resigning 
in  T870. 

Mr.  Ireland's  greatest  work  for  the  Order  was  as 
journalist.  The  Journals  of  Proceedings  of  ten  annual 
sessions  from  1875  to  I883,  inclusive,  were  compiled  by 
him. 

At  the  twelfth  session  of  the  National  Grange,  held 
at  Richmond,  Va.,  Mr.  Kelley  resigned  as  Secretary, 
and  Mr.  Ireland  was  elected  for  the  unexpired  term, 
and  was  subsequently  re-elected  three  times,  holding 
the  office  till  April,  1885,  when  he  resigned  to  accept  a 
position  with  General  Albert  Pike,  head  of  the  Order 
of  Freemasons  in  this  country.  This  position  required 
all  his  time,  and  he  never  afterward  met  with  the 
National  Grange. 

He  died  on  Christmas  Eve,  180,1,  after  a  long  illness, 
being  the  second  one  of  the  Founders  to  pass  away. 
Mrs.  Ireland's  death  had  occurred  several  years  before. 
She  was  a  member  of  Potomac  Grange  No.  1.  Mrs. 
Eva  S.  McDowell  writes  of  him : 

"Mr.  Ireland  was  a  model  of  promptness  and  efficiency.  His 
records  as  Secretary  were  clear  and  complete,  and  nothing  was 


326  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

left  undone  that  should  have  been  done.  He  was  an  indefatigable 
worker,  and  seemed  to  possess  an  elasticity  of  muscle  and  nerve 
that  enabled  him  to  get  through  with  an  incredible  amount  of 
work,  not  only  at  the  annual  sessions,  but  every  day.  He  saw 
the  work  of  a  quarter  century  in  his  beloved  Order  and  knew 
that  his  portion  of  it  was  well  done.  When  he  realized  his  days 
were  numbered  he  wasted  no  time  in  complaint,  but  set  his 
worldly  and  spiritual  affairs  in  order,  with  his  usual  regard  for 
method,  and,  with  loving  thoughts  for  the  membership  at  large, 
and  brotherly  messages  to  his  associates,  he  went  out  into  the 
unknown  hereafter  with  the  same  genial  smile  on  his  face  and 
the  same  gallant  wave  of  the  hand  that  we,  who  knew  him,  hold 
in  fond  recollection  today.  His  last  days  were  cheered  by  per- 
sonal letters  from  his  co-workers  and  loving  expressions  of 
sympathy  from  the  National  Grange  and  many  State  Granges. 
These  letters  and  messages  he  kept  under  his  hand,  filing  them  all 
carefully  and  systematically  away  and  referring  to  them  often 
with  tender  gratification." 

AARON  B.  GROSH 

One  of  the  Founders  and  Chaplain  of  the  National 

Grange 

Aaron  B.  Grosh  claimed  Pennsylvania  for  his  home, 
and  at  one  time  was  a  minister  in  the  Universalist 
church.  Owing  to  ill  health  he  gave  up  the  ministry 
and  became  a  clerk  in  the  United  States  Department 
of  Agriculture. 

He  was  a  friend  of  William  Saunders,  and  was  asked 
by  Mr.  Saunders  to  take  an  active  part  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  the  Ritual  for  the  First  Degree  of  the  Order. 
In  his  painstaking  work,  "Mentor  in  the  Granges  and 
Homes  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry,"  he  has  given  us  a 
few  facts  in  regard  to  himself,  but  with  characteristic 
modesty  he  has  omitted  much  that  we  should  now  like 
to  know. 

He  was  the  first  Chaplain  of  the  National  Grange, 
and  held  that  office  for  eight  years,  being  one  of  the 
two  officers  re-elected  at  the  sixth  annual  session  of 
that  body. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES  327 

The  Ritual  of  the  first  four  degrees  owes  much  of 
its  beauty  to  the  pen  of  Mr.  Grosh,  and  he  gath- 
ered together  the  first  songs  of  the  Grange,  culling 
appropriate  ones  from  one  source  and  another  at  a  cost 
of  infinite  pains  and  trouble.  Later,  he  turned  these 
songs  over  to  Miss  Hall,  who  added  others,  obtaining 
such  copyrights  as  were  necessary,  and  published 
them,  finally  selling  them  to  the  National  Grange. 

It  is,  however,  as  the  author  of  a  clear  and  compre- 
hensive book  of  instruction  to  Granges  that  Mr. 
Grosh  is  best  known.  In  the  preface  of  his  "Mentor"  he 
has  this  to  say  of  himself,  and  it  may  serve  to  answer 
the  doubt  expressed  by  several  members  of  the  Order 
as  to  whether  he  was  eligible,  under  the  Constitution, 
to  membership : 

"From  childhood  many  of  my  associates  have  been  tillers  of 
the  soil.  My  dearest  kindred  and  friends  were  and  are  farmers. 
Portions  of  each  year  of  my  boyhood  were  spent  among  them, 
sharing  their  labors.  When  I  became  a  teacher  it  was  in  the 
country  schools.  When  I  entered  the  ministry  my  parishioners 
were  principally  farmers,  farm  laborers,  and  their  families. 
When  failing  health  and  increasing  years  required  a  milder  cli- 
mate, I  accepted  a  clerkship  offered  me  in  the  Department  of 
Agriculture,  then  lately  organized  in  Washington,  D.  C.  And 
when  asked  to  aid  in  founding  an  Order  for  the  benefit  of  the 
farming  interest,  both  heart  and  head  responded  to  the  call." 

Mr.  Grosh  was  an  Odd  Fellow  of  high  repute, 
and  author  of  "Odd  Fellows  Improved  Manual."  His 
experience  as  an  Odd  Fellow  and  as  a  writer  on  "fra- 
ternity" subjects  made  it  possible  for  him  to  produce 
the  "Mentor  in  the  Grange,"  which  must  forever  re- 
main a  classic  of  Grange  literature.  With  some 
revision  and  bringing  up  to  date,  it  would  be  well  if 
a  new  edition  of  the  "Mentor"  could  be  printed  and 
given  a  wide  circulation  among  the  present-day  mem- 
bers of  the  Order. 

Mr.  Grosh  died  at  Towson,  Baltimore  County,  Md., 
March  27,  1884,  in  the  eighty-first  year  of  his  age. 


328  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

DUDLEY  W.  ADAMS 

Second  Master  of  the  National  Grange 

Dudley  W.  Adams  was  born  in  Winchendon,  Mass., 
in  1831.  His  father  was  a  sawmill  operator  and  farmer, 
and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  led  the  life  of  an  ordi- 
nary New  England  boy — working  on  the  farm  in  the 
summer  and  attending  the  district  school  in  the  winter. 
Later  he  became  the  teacher  in  the  same  school  where 
he  gained  his  education. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  went  to  Waukon,  la., 
where  he  took  up  a  piece  of  government  land.  He 
immediately  became  active  in  local  agricultural  affairs, 
and  was  made  President  of  the  County  Agricultural 
Society  when  but  twenty-two  years  of  age,  and  in  1868 
was  elected  Secretary  of  the  State  Horticultural  So- 
ciety, which  office  he  held  for  many  years. 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry 
he  immediately  identified  himself  with  it,  and  upon  the 
organization  of  the  Iowa  State  Grange,  January  12, 
187 1,  was  elected  Master.  January,  1872,  he  was 
made  Lecturer  of  the  National  Grange,  and  in  Jan- 
uary, 1873,  he  was  elected  Master  of  the  National 
Grange  for  a  term  of  three  years.  His  wife  was  elected 
Ceres  of  the  National  Grange  in  1873,  at  the  time  he 
was  elected  Master. 

Soon  after  the  expiration  of  his  term  as  Master  of 
the  National  Grange  he  moved  to  Florida.  A  letter 
from  Oscar  Dunwiddie,  second  Gatekeeper  of  the  Na- 
tional Grange,  says :  "In  January,  1885,  my  brother 
and  I  were  in  Florida  and  called  to  see  Brother  Adams. 
He  and  his  good  wife  gave  us  the  'glad  hand.'  They 
had  a  small  grove  of  bearing  orange  trees  and  a  large 
grove  of  young  trees  just  beginning  to  bear  and  appar- 
ently one  or  more  trees  of  nearly  every  kind  of  fruit 
adapted  to  that  part  of  Florida." 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES  329 

Whether  in  Massachusetts,  Iowa  or  Florida,  he  was 
found  devoting  himself  to  horticultural  and  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  He  was  a  loyal  and  capable  leader  in 
the  Grange  and  faithful  to  the  farmers'  interests. 

Whether  he  died  in  Florida  we  have  been  unable  to 
learn.    He  died  some  time  in  1899. 


JOHN  THOMPSON  JONES 
Third  Master  of  the  National  Grange 

John  Thompson  Jones  was  born  at  Retreat,  Essex 
County,  Va.,  October  11,  1813.  He  was  educated  at 
Rumford  Academy  and  the  University  of  Virginia, 
from  which  institution  he  graduated  in  1833.  He  emi- 
grated to  Arkansas  in  1836,  bought  and  opened  up 
large  plantations,  and  was  a  "cotton  planter." 

He  was  never  active  in  politics,  never  sought  office, 
but  in  his  early  life  was  twice  elected  District  Judge 
and  served  with  the  greatest  distinction.  After  the  war 
between  the  states  he  was  elected  by  the  Arkansas  leg- 
islature, with  Hon.  A.  H.  Garland,  who  afterward  was 
Attorney-General  in  President  Cleveland's  cabinet,  but 
neither  of  them  ever  took  their  seats  in  the  Senate, 
because  the  state  was  not  then  "reconstructed." 

We  are  told  by  Judge  Wright  of  Virginia  that  "what 
he  esteemed  as  the  highest  honor  ever  conferred  upon 
him  was  his  election  as  Master  of  the  National  Grange 
when  that  organization  was  in  its  highest  prosperity 
and  exercised  a  potent  influence  for  good  in  the  nation 
under  his  administration." 

On  August  3  the  first  Grange  in  Arkansas  was  or- 
ganized by  John  T.  Jones  with  14  members,  with  Mr. 
Jones  as  Master.  When  the  Arkansas  State  Grange 
was  organized  Mr.  Jones  was  elected  the  first  Master. 
He  and  Mrs.  Jones  represented  their  State  Grange 
in    the    National    Grange    at    the    St.    Louis    session 


330  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

in  February,  1874,    at  which  time   he   was  elected    a 
member  of  the  Executive  Committee. 

He  was  elected  Master  of  the  National  Grange  at 
Louisville,  Ky.,  November,  1875,  and  served  one  term 
of  two  years.  His  term  expired  with  the  Cincinnati,  O. 
session  in  November,  1877. 

Mr.  Jones  presided  at  the  session  of  the  National 
Grange  held  at  Chicago,  November  15,  1876,  and  at 
Cincinnati,  November  21,  1877.  His  Master's  ad- 
dresses on  these  occasions  were  endowed  with  strong, 
vigorous  and  far-seeing  statesmanship,  which  marks 
him  as  a  man  of  fine  ability. 

Mrs.  Jones  was  elected  Ceres  of  the  National  Grange 
when  he  was  elected  Master  and  served  two  years.  She 
died  in  1891. 

Mr.  Jones  moved  to  Memphis,  Tenn.,  in  1907, 
where  he  died  the  same  year  at  the  advanced  age  of  94, 
still  vigorous  in  mind. 

SAMUEL  EMORY  ADAMS 
Fourth  Master  of  the  National  Grange 

Samuel  Emory  Adams,  fourth  Master  of  the  Na- 
tional Grange,  was  born  at  Reading,  Windsor  County, 
Vt.,  December  1,  1828.  He  was  educated  at  Chester, 
Springfield  and  Thedford  academies,  and  graduated 
from  Dartmouth  College. 

He  moved  to  Monticello,  Minn.,  in  1856,  and  engaged 
in  merchandising. 

July  21,  1859,  he  married  Miss  Augusta  J.  Smith  of 
Pittsford,  Vt.,  and  took  her  to  his  home  in  Minnesota. 
He  was  twice  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  and  was  ap- 
pointed receiver  at  the  St.  Cloud  land  office  before  the 
Civil  War.  In  the  latter  strife  he  served  as  paymaster 
and  was  breveted  Lieutenant-Colonel  in  1865.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Geo.  N.  Morgan  G.  A.  R.  Post  of 
Minneapolis. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES  (33I 

He  was  President  of  the  Agricultural  Society,  mem- 
ber of  the  State  Horticultural  Society  and  a  member  of 
the  World's  Industrial  Exposition  at  New  Orleans. 
For  twelve  years  he  was  an  Alderman  in  Minneapolis. 
He  was  a  prominent  Freemason.  In  1901  he  was 
elected  Lieutenant  Grand  Commander  of  the  Ancient 
and  Accepted  Scottish  Rite  Supreme,  mother  council 
of  the  world,  which  made  him  second  ranking  Masonic 
officer  in  the  world,  a  position  he  held  at  the  time  of  his 
death. 

He  joined  the  Grange  in  1869  and  helped  establish 
the  Order  in  Minnesota.  He  was  Master  of  the  Na- 
tional Grange  for  two  years,  Master  of  the  State 
Grange  for  eight  years  and  Master  of  Minneapolis 
Grange  No.  S32  for  twenty  years,  which  position  he 
held  at  the  time  of  his  death.  His  sound  judgment 
and  wise  counsel  were  constantly  sought. 
^  He  died  March  29,  1912,  at  his  beautiful  home  at  55 
Cedar  Lake  Road,  Minneapolis,  Minn.  Funeral  services 
were  held  April  1,  conducted  with  Masonic  honors,  as- 
sisted by  members  of  the  Grand  Army  and  of  the  State 
Grange.  He  enriched  life  with  his  kind  thoughts,  his 
worthy  deeds,  and  his  exemplary  character — a  legacy 
greater  than  wealth  or  renown. 

JONATHAN  J.  WOODMAN 

Fifth  Master  of  the  National  Grange 

Jonathan  J.  Woodman  was  born  at  Sutton,  Cale- 
donia County,  Vt.,  May  25,  1825.  His  father  was  a 
minister  and  farmer  and  when  3'oung  Jonathan  was  ten 
years  of  age  the  family  moved  to  Michigan,  where 
they  settled  on  a  farm.  His  early  life  was  spent  in 
teaching  during  the  winter  months  and  working  on  his 
father's  farm  during  the  summer,  completing  his  school 
education  at  a  private  academy  before  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age.  In  1852  he  resigned  the  principal- 
ship  of  the  Paw-Paw  Union  School  to  go  to  California 


332  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

to  engage  in  gold  mining.  He  saved  enough  out  of 
the  venture  to  enlarge  his  farm,  to  which  he  returned 
in  about  three  years. 

He  married  Miss  Harty  H.  Hunt  March  30,  1856. 
As  a  result  of  this  union  one  son  was  born.  Mrs. 
Woodman  died  in  1894.  In  1896  Mr.  Woodman  was 
again  married,  to  Miss  Olivia  J.  Carpenter,  who  was  at 
that  time  pastor  of  the  Universalist  church  at  Farm- 
ington,  Mich.,  who  together  with  the  only  child,  L.  K. 
Woodman  of  Paw  Paw,  remain  to  mourn  his  death, 
which  occurred  on  July  13,  1907. 

From  boyhood  he  had  taken  an  active  part  in  public 
affairs.  In  i860  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  of 
which  he  was  a  member  continuously  for  twelve  years. 
He  was  elected  Speaker  of  the  House  in  1869  and  1871, 
where  he  became  a  recognized  authority  on  parlia- 
mentary law.  A  "History  of  Michigan,"  published  in 
the  seventies,  referred  to  him  as  "unquestionably  the 
most  profound  parliamentarian  and  the  ablest  presid- 
ing officer  Michigan  had  ever  produced." 

In  the  fall  of  1872  Paw  Paw  Grange  was  organized, 
and  he  became  a  charter  member.  In  1874  he  was 
elected  Master  of  the  State  Grange  and  served  six 
years. 

In  1878  President  Hayes  appointed  him  one  of  the 
United  States  Commissioners  to  the  International  Ex- 
position held  in  Paris. 

In  November,  1879,  ne  was  elected  Master  of  the 
National  Grange,  which  office  he  held  for  six  years. 
On  retirement  from  the  mastership  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  Executive  Committee,  of  which  he  re- 
mained a  member  until  November,  1902,  when  he  de- 
clined a  re-election. 

No  man  in  the  United  States  had  a  more  intimate 
knowledge  of  those  public  questions  which  affect  the 
interests  of  the  farmer  than  Mr.  Woodman.     United 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES  333 

to  all  this  was  a  dignity  of  bearing  and  a  command- 
ing personal  presence  that  marked  him  as  a  leader  of 
men. 

ISRAEL  PUTNAM  DARDEN 
Sixth  Master  of  the  National  Grange 

Israel  Putnam  Darden,  better  known  as  "Put" 
Darden,  was  born  near  Fayette,  Jefferson  County, 
Miss.,  March  10,  1836.  He  was  descended  from  Irish 
pioneers.  His  father,  John  P.  Darden,  was  one  of  the 
earliest  and  wealthiest  citizens  of  Jefferson  County. 
He  was  educated  in  the  local  schools  and  graduated 
from  the  State  University  at  Oxford,  in  June,  1856. 
He  joined  the  Christian  Church  when  quite  a  young 
man  and  was  a  deacon  and  consistent  member  until 
his  death. 

He  served  in  the  State  Legislature  and  was  largely 
responsible  for  the  establishment  of  the  Agricultural 
College  at  Starksville  and  the  Girls'  Industrial  Col- 
lege at  Columbus.  The  monument  erected  to  his  mem- 
ory by  the  Patrons  of  the  state  stands  on  the  campus 
at  Starksville — the  college  itself  is  a  monument  to  him. 

At  the  opening  of  the  Civil  War  he  joined  the  Confed- 
erate army,  and  served  the  four  years  of  the  Civil  War 
with  the  rank  of  Captain. 

He  was  a  charter  member  of  Phoenix  Grange  at 
Fayette.  Pie  attended  the  National  Grange  as  Master 
of  the  Mississippi  State  Grange  at  the  Cincinnati  ses- 
sion in  1877.  He  was  elected  Master  of  the  National 
Grange  in  November,  1885,  and  served  until  his  death, 
July  17,  18S8,  two  years  and  about  seven  months. 

It  has  been  said :  "Brother  Darden  was  no  ordinary 
man ;  his  was  no  common  life.  In  every  sphere,  in 
every  position,  he  was  the  same  upright,  honest,  pa- 
triotic  citizen.  Love  of  country,  love  of  home,  love  of 
friends,  all  had  a  place  in  his  manly  breast.    He  was  a 


334  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY, 

man  of  high  culture ;  his  advice  was  respected  and  his 
counsels  followed."  He  was  a  brilliant,  safe  leader  of 
southern  farmers  and  his  untimely  death  was  a  sad 
blow  to  the  National  Grange,  over  which  he  had  presided 
with  such  signal  success.  His  community  honored  him 
as  a  true  Christian,  a  patriot  and  a  man  without  re- 
proach or  fear  in  his  public  life. 

JAMES  DRAPER 
Seventh  Master  of  the  National  Grange 

James  Draper  was  born  at  Worcester,  Mass.,  August 
31,  1842. 

He  was  Secretary  of  the  Worcester  Parks  Commis- 
sion and  prominent  in  the  activities  of  the  city,  espe- 
cially in  matters  pertaining  to  horticulture  and  agri- 
culture. 

Mr.  Draper  was  an  extensive  market  gardener.  The 
quality  of  his  products  soon  attracted  attention,  and 
a  demand  for  plants  of  the  varieties  which  he  found 
best  suited  to  that  locality  and  climate  became  so  great 
that  he  decided  to  start  a  nursery  business,  which  soon 
grew  to  large  proportions  and  became  famous  through- 
out New  England.  In  1874  the  manufacture  of  cement 
drain  and  sewer  pipe  was  added  to  his  business. 

He  had  a  long  record  in  public  service,  and  was 
prominent  in  the  Worcester  County  Horticultural  and 
Agricultural  Societies.  He  was  Vice-President  of  the 
Worcester  Five  Cents  Savings  Bank  and  a  prominent 
Freemason. 

He  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Plymouth 
Congregational  Church  and  among  the  founders  of  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association. 

He  joined  the  Grange  in  1872  and  was  always  a  very 
earnest  and  enthusiastic  worker.  He  was  the  first 
Master  of  Worcester  Grange  and  ever  after  held  some 
prominent  office  in  the  Order. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES  335 

He  studied  and  brought  out  for  the  first  time  in  full 
form  the  Sixth  Degree.  It  was  presented  in  Faneuil 
Hall,  Boston,  before  a  large  and  enthusiastic  audience 
in  1885  at  the  time  of  the  National  Grange  meeting  in 
that  city.  He  also  gave  a  great  deal  of  time  and  study- 
to  bringing  out  the  details  of  the  Seventh  Degree, 
which  was  given  for  the  first  time  at  Topeka,  Kan.,  in 
1887.  He  served  one  term  as  Gatekeeper  of  the  Na- 
tional Grange  and  was  elected  Overseer  at  the  Boston 
session  in  1885,  an(^  served  four  years.  About  the  mid- 
dle of  the  first  year  of  his  second  term  in  1888  Worthy 
Master  Put  Darden  died,  and  Mr.  Draper  became 
Master  of  the  National  Grange  until  the  next  annual 
meeting. 

He  was  High  Priest  for  several  terms,  and  he  intro- 
duced the  inspection  service  in  the  Grange  and  in  many 
other  ways  contributed  to  the  improvement  and  sue-* 
cess  of  the  Order  which  he  loved  so  well.  He  con- 
tinued his  work  with  unabated  interest  to  the  end  of  his 
life.    He  died  March  13,  1907. 

Mrs.  Draper  was  also  active  in  Grange  work.  She 
served  one  term  as  Flora  and  one  term  as  Pomona  of 
the  National  Grange.     She  is  still  living. 

JOSEPH  H.  BRIGHAM 

Eighth  Master  of  the  National  Grange 

Joseph  H.  Brigham  was  born  at  Lodi,  Medina 
County,  O.,  December  12,  1838,  and  moved  to  a  farm  in 
the  same  county  with  his  parents  at  the  age  of  six 
years.  In  1853  his  family  removed  to  the  then  sparsely 
settled  county  of  Fulton,  which  became  his  lifelong 
home  and  from  which  he  was  suddenly  called  to  his 
reward,  June  30,  1904. 

His  life,  except  when  he  was  engaged  in  important 
public  duties  away  from  the  farm,  was  spent  in  active  ag- 


336  PATRONS  OF    HUSBANDRY 

riculture.  He  joined  the  Union  army  as  a  private  at  the 
beginning  of  the  Civil  War  and  retired  from  the  army 
in  1865  as  Colonel  of  his  regiment.  It  was  during  his 
service  in  the  army,  while  at  home  on  leave  of  absence 
in  1863,  that  he  met  and  loved  the  gentle  and  lovable 
woman  who  soon  afterward  became  his  wife  and  with 
whom  he  founded  a  home  that  became  the  synonym 
for  hospitality,  comfort  and  good  cheer.  To  that 
happy  home  there  came  to  gladden  the  hearts  of  their 
parents  seven  children.  Death  was  kind  to  Mrs. 
Brigham  and  called  for  her  seven  months  before 
Colonel  Brigham  passed  away,  so  that  they  were  not 
long  separated. 

Colonel  Brigham  served  his  county  four  years  as 
sheriff,  was  two  years  a  member  of  the  State  Senate,  six 
years  a  member  of  the  Ohio  State  Board  of  Trustees 
of  Ohio  State  University,  seven  years  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Control  of  the  Ohio  Agricultural  Experiment 
Station,  seven  years  Assistant  Secretary  of  Agricul- 
ture, and  three  years  President  of  the  Wool  Growers' 
and  Sheep  Breeders'  Association. 

Colonel  Brigham  joined  the  Grange  in  its  early  days, 
and  served  nine  years  as  Master  of  the  State  Grange. 
He  was  elected  Master  of  the  National  Grange  in  No- 
vember, 1888,  for  the  last  year  of  the  unexpired  term  of 
Put.  Darden,  deceased.  He  was  re-elected  for  four  full 
terms,  making  a  total  service  of  nine  years. 

Following  his  inauguration,  March  4,  1897,  President 
McKinley  appointed  Colonel  Brigham  Assistant  Sec- 
retary of  Agriculture,  in  the  National  Department, 
which  position  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

There  is  little  need  to  say  more  of  the  life  and 
work  of  Colonel  Joseph  H.  Brigham.  They  were  an 
open  book  for  all  to  read.  He  was  large  minded,  large 
hearted  and  large  bodied ;  there  were  truly  "giants  on 
earth"  when  he  lived  among  us. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES  337 

AARON  JONES 
Ninth  Master  of  the  National  Grange 

Aaron  Jones  was  born  in  St.  Joseph  County,  Ind., 
September  9,  1838.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  the  high  school  at  South  Bend,  and  Antioch 
College,  Ohio. 

At  the  age  of  22  he  married  Miss  Margaret  W.  Wiley 
of  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  and  at  once  moved  to  his 
farm  in  St.  Joseph  County,  Ind.,  which  at  that  time  was 
covered  with  heavy  forest  timber.  Since  then 
he  has  been  engaged  in  farming  and  still  owns 
the  farm  he  reclaimed  from  the  forest.  His  industry, 
energy  and  economy  have  given  him  marked  success 
as  a  farmer. 

In  1873  he  joined  Pennsylvania  Township  Grange 
No.  584  as  a  charter  member  and  was  elected  its  first 
Master.  This  Grange  is  now,  and  all  these  years  has 
been,  active  in  Grange  Work,  and  now  has  260  mem- 
bers. He  was  a  delegate  to  Indiana  State  Grange  in 
1873,  and  has  attended  every  meeting  since  but  three, 
which  were  missed  on  account  of  illness. 

He  was  elected  Master  of  the  State  Grange  in  1891, 
and  was  re-elected  for  eleven  consecutive  terms,  when 
he  declined  to  accept  the  office  longer. 

In  1897,  at  the  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  session,  he  was 
elected  Master  of  the  National  Grange,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  for  eight  years,  when  he  declined  a  re- 
election. He  also  served  one  term  as  Overseer  of  the 
National  Grange,  and  many  years  as  an  efficient  mem- 
ber of  the  Legislative  Committee. 

In  1877  Mr.  Jones  and  others  secured  the  enactment 
of  a  law  in  Indiana  enabling  farmers  to  organize  mu- 
tual fire  insurance  companies,  to  be  confined  to  one 
county.  A  company  was  organized  at  once,  and  he 
was  elected  the  first  Secretary,  and  has  held  that  office 
ever  since.    The  company  has  been  very  successful, 


338  PATRONS  OF    HUSBANDRY 

and  now  has  over  $4,000,000  of  insurance  on  the  farm- 
ers' property  of  St.  Joseph  County.  This  company  has 
paid  all  losses,  amounting  to  over  $195,000,  and  saved 
to  the  farmers  $150,000  from  the  cost  of  insurance  in 
stock  companies. 

In  1882  Mr.  Jones  was  elected  Auditor  of  St.  Joseph 
County,  serving  eight  years,  two  terms.  He  was  also 
twenty-four  years  on  the  County  Board  of  Equaliza- 
tion of  the  County  Assessments.  He  served  ten  years 
as  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  was 
Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee  four  3^ears,  and 
President  two  years.  Some  of  the  largest  fairs  ever 
held  in  the  state  were  during  his  administration. 

Throughout  their  long  married  life  Mrs.  Jones  has 
ever  been  a  loyal  participant  in  his  success  and  wide 
usefulness,  and  as  wife  and  mother  her  devotion  and 
life  of  service  have  been  a  benediction  to  her  husband 
and  her  children. 

Mr.  Jones  has  been  a  strong,  vigorous  friend  of  agri- 
culture and  public-spirited  citizen,  and  even  now,  as 
he  nears  four  score  years  of  age,  he  is  intensely  alert 
and  interested  in  the  Grange  and  country  life  problems. 

NAHUM  J.  BACHELDER 
Tenth  Master  of  the  National  Grange 

Nahum  J.  Bachelder  was  born  at  Andover,  N.  H., 
September  3,  1854.  He  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  early  initiated  into  all  the  various  labors  of 
a  thrifty  New  England  farmer. 

He  was  educated  in  the  best  New  Hampshire  schools 
and  received  the  degree  of  A.  B.  from  the  State  Agri- 
cultural College  at  Durham,  and  A.  M.  from  Dart- 
mouth College.  He  is  a  scholarly  and  impressive  writer 
on  many  subjects,  showing  a  high  degree  of  culture 
and  refinement. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES  339 

He  was  Secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture 
twenty-six  years,  and  published  many  books  and  bulle- 
tins describing-  the  agricultural  possibilities  of  the  state 
and  inviting  summer  tourists  to  her  magnificent  scen- 
ery and  invigorating  climate. 

He  was  elected  Governor  in  1902  and  served  one 
term  of  two  years  with  credit  to  himself  and  value  to 
the  state. 

He  joined  the  Grange  when  quite  young,  and  for 
more  than  thirty  years  has  been  an  active  Grange 
worker,  holding  many  offices  in  his  Subordinate  and 
Pomona  Granges.  He  was  eight  years  Secretary  and 
twelve  years  Master  of  the  New  Hampshire  State 
Grange.  He  served  as  Chairman  of  the  National 
Grange  Executive  Committee,  was  Lecturer  six  years, 
and  Master  of  the  National  Grange  six  years,  from 
1905  to  1911. 

Everywhere,  in  the  Grange  and  in  public  office,  he 
rendered  a  conspicuous  service  to  the  farmers  of  the 
state  and  nation. 

He  retired  from  public  service  in  1913,  and  is  now 
developing  his  700-acre  farm  at  Andover,  said  to  be  one 
of  the  best  in  the  state,  where  he  is  much  attached  to 
his  country  home  and  family. 

Mrs.  Bachelder  is  an  active  member  of  the  Grange, 
and  in  all  his  Grange  work  has  been  a  sympathetic 
helper.  While  he  was  Governor  she  fully  measured 
up  to  the  responsible  position  as  "first  lady  of  the 
state."  Her  life  has  been  one  of  devotion  to  her  hus- 
band and  children,  and  she  has  largely  contributed  to 
his  success  and  usefulness. 

The  farmers  of  America  have  had  few  more  loyal 
and  well-equipped  champions,  and  his  retirement  from 
public  service  is  a  distinct  loss  to  agriculture.  He  is 
capable  of  many  more  years  of  work,  and  it  is  not  likely 
the  farmers  of  his  state  will  leave  him  long  in  his  re- 
tirement. 


34°  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY' 

OLIVER  WILSON 
Eleventh  Master  of  the  National  Grange 

Oliver  Wilson,  eleventh  Master  of  the  National 
Grange,  was  born  in  Belmont  County,  O.,  and  removed 
with  his  parents  when  a  year  and  a  half  old  to  Putnam 
County,  111.,  where  they  settled  on  an  unimproved 
prairie  farm.  His  boyhood  life  was  that  of  the  average 
farm  boy  in  a  new  country,  being  expected  at  an  early 
age  to  do  a  man's  work  upon  the  farm  in  summer  and 
attend  the  district  school  during  the  winter  months. 
In  early  manhood  he  took  a  course  at  the  Normal 
School  at  Normal,  111.,  after  which  he  taught  school 
for  four  years  during  fall  and  winter  months,  but 
worked  on  the  farm  in  summer.  In  1873  ne  became  a 
charter  member  of  Magnolia  Grange  No.  179,  and  has 
continued  his  membership  for  forty-three  years,  hold- 
ing various  offices  in  the  Subordinate  Grange.  In  1885 
he  was  elected  Lecturer  of  the  State  Grange  of  Illinois, 
which  position  he  held  for  eight  years.  He  was  then 
elected  Master  of  the  State  Grange  and  served  for  six- 
teen consecutive  years,  at  which  time  he  was  elected 
Lecturer  of  the  National  Grange,  serving  two  years, 
and  then  was  promoted  to  the  highest  office  in  the  gift 
of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry — Master  of  the  National 
Grange.  Mr.  Wilson  has  always  been  interested  in 
advanced  agriculture.  Besides  his  Grange  work,  he 
was  one  of  the  originators  of  the  farmers'  institute 
system  of  Illinois,  and  was  its  first  State  Superin- 
tendent. 

SARAH  GATES  BAIRD 
Past  Master  Minnesota  State  Grange 

Mrs.  Sarah  Gates  Baird  has  the  unique  distinction  of 
being  the  only  woman  who  has  ever  held  the  office  of 
Master  of  a  State  Grange.  She  has  also  held  the  offices 
of  Ceres  and  Pomona  in  the  National  Grange. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES  34I 

She  was  born  in  Albany,  Vt.,  in  1843,  and  in  1857 
went  with  her  parents  to  Minneapolis,  Minn.,  and  was 
educated  in  the  city  schools,  where  she  afterward 
taught  until  1865,  when  she  was  married  to  Geo.  W. 
Baird  of  Edina  Mills,  and  located  on  a  farm  five  miles 
from  Minneapolis.  This  has  since  been  her  residence, 
where  she  and  her  husband  for  many  years  enjoyed  the 
fruits  of  a  life  of  industry,  occupying  a  fine  modern, 
steam-heated  house,  with  all  the  conveniences  that  make 
rural  life  ideal,  and  the  honors  that  her  ability,  genial- 
ity and  unselfishness  had  brought  her.  Mr.  Baird,  who 
was  also  prominent  in  Grange  work,  died  July  22,  1916. 
Mrs.  Baird  has  been  closely  identified  with  Grange  work 
ever  since  she  became  a  charter  member  of  her  home 
Grange,  December  9,  1873.  She  was  continuously  in  office 
from  the  time  her  membership  began.  She  was  Master  of 
her  Subordinate  Grange  four  consecutive  years ;  State 
Grange  Treasurer  from  1882  to  1895  ;  Master  of  the  State 
Grange  from  1895  to  December,  1912,  when  she  volun- 
tarily retired.  Her  long  career  as  an  officer  and 
worker  in  the  Grange  was  marked  by  distinguished 
ability,  loyalty  and  unselfishness,  which  did  much  to 
keep  Minnesota  in  the  Grange  ranks  during  the  darkest 
and  most  discouraging  days  of  the  Order  in  that  state. 

EVA  SHERWOOD  McDOWELL 
Treasurer  of  the  National  Grange 

Eva  Sherwood  was  born  in  Woodhull,  N.  Y.,  De- 
cember 17,  185 1.  When  she  was  about  five  years  of 
age  her  father  moved  from  the  village  where  she  was 
born  to  a  farm  in  the  vicinity,  and  thus  her  early  life 
was  surrounded  with  farm  associations.  She  was  edu- 
cated in  the  old  academy  in  Woodhull. 

Her  ambition  was  for  a  college  course,  but  serious 
illness  in  her  family  made  that  impossible. 


342  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

At  the  age  of  fourteen  she  began  assisting  her  father 
at  his  desk,  keeping  his  accounts,  writing  letters,  etc. 
Her  father  was  at  that  time  commissioner  of  schools 
for  a  portion  of  her  native  county,  and  she  assisted  him 
in  his  quarterly  reports.  The  practical  business  in- 
struction she  received  from  him  in  those  early  days 
has  been  of  inestimable  value  during  her  life. 

In  December,  1874,  she  was  married  to  Francis  M. 
McDowell  of  Wayne,  N.  Y.,  a  vineyardist,  one  of  the 
Founders  of  the  Order  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  She 
immediately  became  interested  in  the  work  of  the 
Grange,  and  was  a  charter  member  of  the  first  Grange 
organized  in  Wayne.  Mr.  McDowell  was  at  that  time,  and 
for  many  years  after,  Treasurer  of  the  National  Grange, 
and  Mrs.  McDowell  began  keeping  the  Treasurer's  ac- 
count books  very  soon  after  her  marriage.  She  also 
acted  as  bookkeeper  for  the  Keuka  Vineyard  Company, 
Mr.  McDowell  being  its  president.  The  books  of  the 
Grange  she  has  kept  from  that  time  to  the  present, 
nearly  forty-three  years  of  continuous  service.  It  is 
needless  to  say  that  she  loves  the  Grange  with  all  her 
heart  and  takes  great  pride  in  her  books. 

Mr.  McDowell's  health  failed  in  1893,  and  in  the 
autumn  of  that  year,  at  the  twenty-seventh  annual 
session  of  the  National  Grange  held  in  Syracuse,  N  Y., 
Mrs.  McDowell  was  elected  to  succeed  him.  He  died 
in  the  spring  of  1894.  Since  that  time  Mrs.  McDowell 
has  been  re-elected  twelve  times. 

Soon  after  the  death  of  Mr.  McDowell  she  sought 
and  obtained  a  position  in  the  Department  of  Agricul- 
ture of  the  state  of  Ohio.  She  lived  in  Columbus  for 
six  years,  filling  the  position  of  statistician  acceptably 
and  keeping  up  her  Grange  work  at  the  same  time. 

In  1902,  on  the  death  of  her  sister,  she  removed  to 
Rome,  N.  Y.,  to  be  with  her  sister's  children  until  they 
should  be  of  an  age  to  carry  on  their  home  unaided. 
In  1909  she  removed,  with  her  daughter,  to  Wellesley, 
Mass.,  where  she  now  resides.    Her  daughter,  who  is 


Mrs.  Eva  Sherwood   McDowell,  present  Treasurer  of  the   Na- 
tional Grange. 


Mrs.    Sarah   Gates   Baird,   Minnesota,   only   woman   who   ever 
held  the  office  of  Master  of  a  State  Grange. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES  343 

her  only  child,  is  a  graduate  of  Wellesley  College, 
has  been  a  successful  teacher  for  some  years,  and  now 
is  at  the  head  of  the  physics  department  in  Wellesley. 
Mrs.  McDowell  was  from  early  years  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  a  connection  which  she  sev- 
ered in  1909  to  become  a  member  of  the  Wellesley  Con- 
gregational Church.  She  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution  and  of  Welles- 
ley Grange,  No.  166.  She  is  fond  of  travel  and  of 
books.  Having  partially  lost  her  hearing,  she  has  been 
thrown  more  and  more  upon  these  resources  for  com- 
panionship, as  much  of  the  daily  conversation  of  her 
associates  necessarily  passes  her  by,  but  she  is  fond 
of  society  in  a  quiet  way.  Within  the  borders  of  the 
Grange  she  has  many  friends  who  have  made  sunny 
places  for  her  in  a  life  that  has  had  much  of  shadow; 
and  she  does  not  hesitate  to  say  that  for  the  social  side 
alone  the  Grange  is  wholly  worth  while.  She  looks  to 
see  it  spread  over  the  entire  land  and  become  a  great 
power  for  good  in  the  world,  making  for  peace,  pros- 
perity and  Christianity. 


THOMAS  CLARK  ATKESON 

Master  of  the  West  Virginia  State  Grange  and  Past 

Overseer  of  the  National  Grange 

Thomas  Clark  Atkeson  was  born  on  a  farm  in  the 
Great  Kanawha  Valley,  near  the  town  of  Buffalo,  Put- 
nam County,  W.  Va.,  February  15,  1852.  His  father 
was  a  successful,  progressive  farmer,  who  taught  all 
his  sons  farm  work  and  management  in  all  its  depart- 
ments. The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  young  man- 
hood on  the  farm  with  the  usual  experiences  of  a  coun- 
try boy,  working  on  the  farm  in  summer  and  going  to 
school  in  the  winter.  He  was  educated  in  the  country 
schools,  Buffalo  Academy,  West  Virginia  University 


344  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

and  Kentucky  University,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1874.    On  leaving  school  he  returned  to  the  farm. 

In  1878  he  married  Miss  Cordelia  Meek,  daughter 
of  Rev.  Zephaniah  Meek,  D.  D.,  editor  of  the  Central 
Methodist,  Catlettsburg,  Ky.,  at  once  taking  charge  of 
the  home  farm  at  Buffalo,  W.  Va.,  which  he  now  owns 
and  operates  in  connection  with  his  son. 

In  1891  the  Board  of  Regents  tendered  him  the  Pro- 
fessorship of  Agriculture  in  West  Virginia  University 
at  Morgantown,  which  position  he  accepted  and  re- 
mained with  the  university  twenty-three  years,  with 
the  exception  of  a  short  time  while  he  was  President 
of  Morris  Harvey  College,  Barboursville,  W.  Va.  On 
returning  to  the  university  he  was  made  Dean  of  the 
College  of  Agriculture,  which  position  he  held  for 
seventeen  years,  until  his  voluntary  retirement  in  1913 
to  accept  a  position  in  the  State  Department  of  Agri- 
culture at  the  Capitol.  During  the  time  he  was  en- 
gaged in  college  work,  in  addition  to  his  degree  from 
Kentucky  University,  other  institutions  conferred  upon 
him  the  degrees  of  M.  S.  and  Ph  D. 

He  was  on  the  State  Farmers'  Institute  force  for 
many  years,  served  on  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture 
fourteen  years — ten  years  of  the  time  as  its  President. 
He  also  served  on  the  University  Board  of  Regents, 
on  the  State  Geological  Survey  Commission  and  in 
other  positions  of  honor  and  trust. 

He  joined  the  Grange  in  1880,  and  has  been  an  active 
member  ever  since.  In  addition  to  holding  many 
Subordinate  Grange  offices,  he  held  the  offices  of  As- 
sistant Steward,  Secretary  and  Lecturer  of  the  State 
Grange,  one  term  each;  Overseer,  eight  years;  and  his 
present  term  completes  twenty  years  as  Master  of  the 
West  Virginia  State  Grange.  He  also  served  eight  years 
as  Overseer  of  the  National  Grange  and  as  a  member  of 
the  Legislative  Committee. 

Except  while  engaged  in  agricultural  college  work 
he  has  always  been  engaged  in  practical  agriculture, 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES  345 

and  he  now  resides  on  his  "Lawnvale  Farm"  near 
Buffalo. 

Mrs.  Atkeson  has  been  a  devoted  wife  and  mother, 
and  has  been  very  largely  responsible  for  her  hus- 
band's success  by  her  helpful  encouragement.  She 
served  one  term  as  Ceres  and  two  terms  as  Pomona  in 
the  National  Grange,  and  has  held  the  same  offices  in  the 
State  Grange. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Atkeson  have  been  devoted  to  their 
home  life,  but  they  are  much  interested  in  public  af- 
fairs and  actively  engaged  in  Grange  work.  Fond  of 
the  farm  and  the  country,  they  are  deeply  interested  in 
all  rural  life  problems. 

JAMES  WILLIAM  ABERT  WRIGHT 

Author  of  the  Grange  Declaration  of  Purposes 

James  William  Abert  Wright,  author  of  the 
Grange  "Declaration  of  Purposes,"  was  born  at  Colum- 
bus, Miss.,  July  28,  1834.  He  was  the  son  of  Rev. 
David  Wright,  a  Presbyterian  minister  and  Eliza  Abert 
Wright,  daughter  of  John  Abert.  Mr.  Wright  was 
educated  in  private  schools  at  Columbus,  Miss.,  Green 
Springs  (Ala.)  High  School  and  Princeton  University, 
from  which  institution  he  graduated  with  the  highest 
honors  in  1857.  He  returned  to  Green  Springs,  Ala., 
and  taught  in  the  high  school  until  1862.  He  married 
Margaret  Tutwiller,  daughter  of  the  Principal  of  the 
Green  Springs  High  School,  in  August,  1859.  In  May, 
1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  army  and  served 
three  years  as  Captain  and  Major.  At  the  battle  of 
Missionary  Ridge  he  was  wounded  in  the  hip  and  cap- 
tured. He  remained  a  prisoner  of  war  until  March  27, 
1864,  when  he  escaped.  After  the  war  he  resumed 
teaching  at  Green  Springs.  In  the  spring  of  1868  he 
removed  to  California.  From  1868  to  1876  he  farmed 
on  a  large  scale,  having  at  one  time  4,000  acres  planted 
to  wheat.    July  15,  1873,  he  was  elected  as  first  Mas- 


34^  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

ter  of  the  California  State  Grange.  It  was  at  the  St. 
Louis  session  of  the  National  Grange,  February,  1874, 
that  he  wrote  the  "Declaration  of  Purposes"  of  the 
Patrons  of  Husbandry,  which  has  made  the  Order  and 
himself  famous  the  world  over.  With  his  wife  and 
three  sons  he  returned  to  Alabama  in  1883,  where  he 
continued  to  reside  until  his  death  in  1894. 

CHARLES  M.  FREEMAN 
Secretary  of  the  National  Grange 

Charles  M.  Freeman,  Secretary  of  the  National 
Grange,  was  born  in  Miami  County,  O.,  March  7,  1862. 
His  father,  Isaac  Freeman,  was  a  farmer  and  extensive 
nurseryman,  and  an  active  member  of  the  Grange  for 
many  years,  holding  many  offices  in  his  local  and  Po- 
mona Granges  and  the  offices  of  Steward  and  Overseer 
in  the  Ohio  State  Grange. 

Mr.  Freeman  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
of  the  neighborhood,  at  the  Lebanon  Normal  School, 
and  the  Western  Ohio  University,  from  which 
he  graduated.  He  returned  to  the  university  later 
and  completed  a  commercial  course. 

He  engaged  in  the  nursery  business  in  partnership 
with  his  father  for  several  years,  until  he  began  farm- 
ing for  himself,  and  he  now  resides  on  a  farm  of  152 
acres,  where  he  is  engaged  in  up-to-date  farming  and 
stock  raising. 

He  joined  the  Grange  when  fourteen  years  of  age 
and  has  held  almost  every  office  in  the  Subordinate 
and  Pomona  Grange ;  was  Steward,  Lecturer  and  Sec- 
retary of  the  Ohio  State  Grange.  He  also  served  on  the 
State  Grange  Executive  and  Legislative  Committees 
for  several  years. 

January  3,  1903,  he  was  appointed  Secretary  of  the 
National  Grange  by  the  Executive  Committee  for  the 
unexpired  term  of  Dr.  John  Trimble,  who  died  Decem- 
ber 30,  1902.     He  went  immediately  to  Washington, 


Thomas   Clark  Atkeson,    Master   of   the   West   Virginia   State 
Grange    and    Author    of    the    Semi-Centennial    History 
of    the  Patrons  of  Husbandry. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES  347 

D.  C,  to  take  up  his  duties  and  remained  there  until 
November,  1903,  when,  by  action  of  the  National 
Grange  after  his  election  for  a  full  term,  he  was  per- 
mitted to  move  the  office  to  his  home  near  Tippecanoe 
City,  O.  He  has  been  re-elected  at  every  National 
Grange  election  since. 

He  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  best  Grange  speakers 
in  the  country,  and  is  in  demand  on  all  sorts  of  occa- 
sions. He  was  Institute  Lecturer  and  Grange  Editor 
of  the  National  Stockman  and  Farmer  for  ten  years,  and 
while  Lecturer  of  the  Ohio  State  Grange  he  instituted 
the  first  State  Lecturer's  Quarterly  Bulletin. 

In  1866  he  married  Miss  Fannie  B.  Stafford  of  Clarke 
County,  O.,  whose  capability,  devotion  and  accom- 
plishments have  largely  contributed  to  his  success. 
They  have  one  child,  a  daughter,  Frances,  who 
is  now  head  of  the  Department  of  Home  Economics 
in  the  University  of  Maine. 

As  a  Grange  worker  and  speaker  he  has  always 
placed  special  emphasis  upon  education  for  the  farm- 
ers, and  he  i>acks  up  his  exhortations  with  actual, 
earnest  work,  which  helps  bring  fruition  to  the  desire. 
The  cause  of  education  of  farm  boys  and  girls  has  en- 
listed Mr.  Freeman's  sympathies  and  most  earnest 
effort  for  many  years.  Largely  through  his  efforts  as 
a  member  of  his  township  board  of  education  a  well- 
equipped  and  handsome  township  high  school  building 
was  erected  on  his  farm  and  his  home  Grange  built  its 
hall  on  a  lot  donated  by  him. 

CAROLINE  ARABELLE  HALL 

Equal  to  a  Founder  and  First  Ceres  of  the  National 

Grange 

But  little  is  known  of  Miss  Caroline  Arabelle  Hall 
beyond  the  fact  that  she  was  a  niece  of  Mr.  Kelley,  and 
for  the  following  information  we  are  indebted  to  Mrs. 
Eva  S.  McDowell : 


34§  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY, 

"Miss  Caroline  A.  Hall  was  born  in  Boston,  within  sight  of 
the  Common.  She  received  her  education  in  the  public  schools 
and  at  "The  Wells."  About  the  time  of  her  graduation  her 
mother's  sister  went  from  Boston  to  Minnesota  in  search  of  a 
more  favorable  climate  and  to  teach  school.  Mr.  Hall  had  been 
suffering  from  "western  fever"  for  some  time,  and  it  is  likely 
that  the  letters  of  his  sister-in-law  fostered  the  desire  to  migrate. 
In  any  event,  he  decided  to  seek  a  home  in  the  West,  and  started 
for  Minnesota  with  his  family.  Meantime  the  sister-in-law  had 
married  Mr.  O.  H.  Kelley,  and  was  living  with  him  near  Itasca, 
about  twenty  miles  above  Minneapolis  and  near  the  Mississippi 
river,  so  the  Halls  naturally  wished  to  found  a  home  in  their 
vicinity  where  the  families  could  see  much  of  one  another. 

"Soon  after  becoming  settled  in  the  new  home  Miss  Hall  took 
up  the  vocation  of  teaching,  and  was  thus  engaged  when  Mr. 
Kelley  laid  before  her  the  Grange  proposition.  Always  eager 
to  do  something  to  make  the  world  happier  and  better,  she 
wished  to  help,  and  went  into  the  work  with  hands,  heart  and 
soul.  Perhaps  she  had  seen  much  since  leaving  Boston  of  the 
loneliness  and  isolation  of  the  lives  led  by  the  wives  of  the 
farmers  in  those  sparsely  settled  lands,  and  welcomed  an  order 
that  might  make  more  sunshine  in  their  uneventful  days.  Be 
that  as  it  may,  she  was  an  early  and  earnest  advocate  of  the 
admittance  of  women  to  the  Grange  on  an  equal  footing  with 
men. 

"How  to  get  people  acquainted  with  and  interested  in  the  new 
movement  was  the  question.  To  that  end  Miss  Hall  collected 
as  many  agricultural  papers  and  periodicals  as  she  could  lay  her 
hands  upon,  looked  them  carefully  through  for  names  and  ad- 
dresses of  correspondents,  and  to  such  as  she  found  sent  circu- 
lars describing  the  contemplated  organization  and  asking  their 
co-operation.  Many  replies  came,  giving  the  names  of  others, 
and  so  the  list  of  correspondents  kept  growing  longer  and  longer, 
until  finally  she  gave  up  teaching  to  assist  Mr.  Kelley  in  the 
work  of  the  Secretary's  office.  For  a  long  time  she  had  entire 
charge  of  the  office,  as  Mr.  Kelley  was  away  organizing  Granges. 
Answering  every  call  as  he  did,  or  tried  to  do,  the  distances 
traveled  were  long  and  much  time  was  consumed,  leaving  him 
little  at  home.  Without  Miss  Hall's  work  there  would  have  been 
much  delay  and  confusion  in  answering  letters. 

"In  November,  1868,  Mr.  Kelley  wrote  to  Mr.  McDowell,  High 
Priest  of  Demeter  of  the  provisional  organization,  asking  him 
to  appoint  Miss  Hall  as  Ceres  in  the  Seventh  Degree,  saying  that 
she  was  the  first  woman  to  see  the  outline  of  the  degrees.  Mr. 
McDowell  replied  at  once,  sending  the  appointment  and  con- 


James  William  Abert  Wright,  Author  of  the  Grange  Declara- 
tion   of    Purposes. 


Charles     M.     Freeman,     present     Secretary    of    the     National 

Grange. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  349 

eluding  his  letter  with  these  words :  'I  have  conferred  this  honor 
upon  her  *  *  *  in  recognition  of  her  services  to  our  Order  and 
as  the  first  woman  who  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  it.'  Thus 
Miss  Hall  became  the  first  Ceres  of  the  National  Grange." 

When  Mr.  Kelley's  family  removed  to  Washington, 
D.  C.,  in  1871,  Miss  Hall  went  with  them  and  took 
charge  of  the  Secretary's  office  there. 

At  the  sixth  annual  session  (the  first  representative 
session)  of  the  National  Grange,  held  in  Georgetown, 
in  Mr.  Kelley's  parlors,  in  January,  1873,  Miss  Hall 
was  elected  Lady  Assistant  Steward,  and  held  that 
office  for  about  six  years.  Although  the  Ritual  was 
new  and  comparatively  untried  at  the  time  of  her  elec- 
tion, she  took  the  position  and  made  the  work  a  thing 
of  beauty,  especially  in  the  degree  work. 

Miss  Hall  compiled  the  first  song  book  used  in  the 
Grange,  taking  the  few  that  Mr.  Grosh  had  collected 
and  added  to  them  until  she  had  a  fair  variety  of  suit- 
able songs.  At  that  time  there  was  a  great  call  for  suitable 
songs  for  opening  and  closing  exercises,  and  for  degree 
work,  and  the  little  book  she  sent  out  in  response  to  the 
demand  was  gladly  received. 

When  the  Kelley  family  decided  to  invest  in  Florida 
land  and  to  go  there  to  live,  Miss  Hall  went  with  them 
and  remained  for  some  years.  She  is  now  living  at 
her  farm  home  in  Wisconsin,  always  as  ready  to  re- 
spond to  calls  for  help  and  to  aid  others  in  any  pos- 
sible way  as  of  old. 


350 


PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 


Number  of  Members  of  the  Grange  as  Shown  by  the 
Amount  Paid  to  the  National  Grange  Annually 

(No  figures  are  available  previous  to  1874) 


1874 268,368 

1875 858,050 

1876 728,313 

1877 411,244 

1878 334,782 

1879 246,383 

1880 124,420 

1881 151,040 

1882 137,165 

1883 122,960 

1884 111,472 

1885 117,620 

1886 109,763 

1887 118,341 


1888 109,526 

1889 106,782 

1890 135,461 

1891 139,920 

1892 145,331 

1893 205,740 

1894 127,160 

1895 179,247 

1896 131,942 

1897 167,206 

1898 178,187 

1899 179,522 

1900 187,482 

1901 196,580 


1902 218,022 

1903 250,169 

1904 260,813 

1905 284,646 

1906 289,580 

1907 410,622 

1908 338,180 

1909 339,470 

1910 425,033 

1911 502,322 

1912 415,143 

1913 539,426 

1914 515,280 

1915 540,085 


These  figures  have  been  obtained  from  the  actual 
amount  of  dues  paid  for  each  year.  It  is  impossible  to 
ascertain  the  number  of  persons  living  at  any  definite 
time,  but  it  is  fair  to  assume  that  the  living  member- 
ship at  any  time  is  more  than  double  the  number  that 
pay  dues  to  the  National  Grange.  The  above  figures 
will  prove  interesting,  as  they  show  the  annual  varia- 
tion in  membership. 


NATIONAL  GRANGE  OFFICERS 
From  the  Founding  of  the  Order  to  the  Present  (191 6) 

WORTHY  MASTER 

Wm.  Saunders,  Washington,  D.  C,  Dec.  4,  1867,  to  Jan.  10, 1873. 

D.  W.  Adams,  Iowa,  Jan.  10,  1873,  to  Nov.  23,  1875. 

J.  T.  Jones,  Arkansas,  Nov.  23,  1875,  to  Nov.  27,  1877. 

S.  E.  Adams,  Minnesota,  Nov,  27,  1877,  to  Nov.  22,  1879. 

T.  J.  Woodman,  Michigan,  Nov.  22,  1879,  to  Nov.  18,  1885. 

Put  Darden,  Mississippi,  Nov.  18,  1885,  to  death,  July  17,  1888. 

Jas.  Draper,  Massachusetts,  July  17,  1888,  to  Nov.  19,  1888. 

J.  H.  Brigham,  Ohio,  Nov.  14,  1888,  to  Nov.  18,  1897. 

Aaron  Jones,  Indiana,  Nov.  18,  1897,  to  Nov.  22,  1905. 

N.  J.  Bachelder,  New  Hampshire,  Nov.  22,  1905,  to  Nov.  21,  1911. 

Oliver  Wilson,  Illinois,  Nov.  21,  1911,  to  present  (1916). 

WORTHY  OVERSEER 

Anson  Bartlett,  Ohio,  Dec,  1867,  to  Jan.,  1873. 

Thos.  Taylor,  South  Carolina,  Jan.,  1873,  to  Nov.,  1875. 

J.  J.  Woodman,  Nov.,  1875,  to  Nov.,  1879. 

Put  Darden,  Mississippi,  Nov.,  1879,  to  Nov.,  1885. 

Jas.  Draper,  Massachusetts,  Nov,  1885,  to  Nov.,  1889. 

Hiram  Hawkins,  Alabama,  Nov.,  1889,  to  Nov.,  1891. 

E.  W.  Davis,  California,  Nov.,  1891,  to  Nov.,  1895. 
Aaron  Jones,  Indiana,  Nov.,  1895,  to  Nov.,  1897. 

O.  H.  Hale,  New  York,  Nov.,  1897,  to  Nov.,  1899. 

O.  Gardner,  Maine,  Nov.,  1899,  to  Nov.,  1903. 

T.  C.  Atkeson,  West  Virginia,  Nov.,  1903,  to  Nov.,  1911. 

L.  H.  Healey,  Connecticut,  Nov.,  1911,  to  Nov.,  1913. 

W.  H.  Vary,  New  York,  Nov.,  1913,  to  present  (1916). 

WORTHY  LECTURER 

J.  R.  Thompson,  Washington,  D.  C,  Dec,  1867,  to  Jan.,  1872. 

D.  W.  Adams,  Iowa,  Jan.,  1872,  to  Jan.,  1873. 

T.  A.  Thompson,  Minnesota,  Jan.,  1873,  to  Nov.,  1875. 

A.  B.  Smedley,  Iowa,  Nov.,  1875,  to  Nov.,  1877. 

M.  Whitehead,  New  Jersey,  Nov.,  1877,  to  Nov.,  1879. 

H.  Eshbaugh,  Missouri,  Nov.,  1879,  to  Nov.,  1886. 

M.  Whitehead,  New  Jersey,  Nov.,  1886,  to  Nov.,  1893. 

351 


352  PATRONS  OF    HUSBANDRY 

A.  Messer,  Vermont,  Nov.,  1893,  to  Nov.,  1899. 

N.  J.  Bachelder,  New  Hampshire,  Nov.,  1899,  to  Nov.,  1905. 

G.  W.  F.  Gaunt,  New  Jersey,  Nov.,  1905,  to  Nov.,  1909. 

Oliver  Wilson,  Illinois,  Nov.,  1909,  to  Nov.,  1911. 

N.  P.  Hull,  Michigan,  Nov.,  1911,  to  Nov.,  1913. 

G.  W.  F.  Gaunt,  New  Jersey,  Nov.,  1913,  to  Nov.,  1915. 

E.  E.  Chapman,  Massachusetts,  Nov.,  1915,  to  present  (1916). 


WORTHY  STEWARD 

Wm.  Muir,  Missouri,  Dec,  1867,  to  Jan.,  1873. 

A.  J.  Vaughn,  Mississippi,  Jan.,  1873,  to  Nov.,  1881. 

Wm.  Sims,  Kansas,  Nov.,  1881,  to  Nov.,  1885. 

J.  E.  Hall,  West  Virginia,  Nov.,  1885,  to  Nov.,  1887. 

X.  X.  Chartters,  Virginia,  Nov.,  1887,  to  Nov.,  1889. 

E.  W.  Davis,  California,  Nov.,  1889,  to  Nov.,  1891. 
A.  E.  Page,  Missouri,  Nov.,  1891,  to  Nov.,  1893. 
M.  B.  Hunt,  Maine,  Nov.,  1893,  to  Nov.,  1895. 

J.  T.  Cox,  New  Jersey,  Nov.,  1895,  to  Nov.,  1899. 
J.  A.  Newcomb,  Colorado,  Nov.,  1899,  to  Nov.,  1901. 
W.  C.  Jewett,  Massachusetts,  Nov.,  1901,  to  Nov.,  1903. 
J.  A.  Newcomb,  Colorado,  Nov.,  1903,  to  Nov.,  1909. 

C.  D.  Richardson,  Massachusetts,  Nov.,  1909,  to  Nov.,  1911. 

D.  C.  Mullen,  Idaho,  Nov.,  1911,  to  Nov.,  1913. 

F.  C.  Bancroft,  Delaware,  Nov.,  1913,  to  present  (1916). 


WORTHY  ASSISTANT  STEWARD 

A.  S.  Moss,  New  York,  Dec,  1867,  to  Jan.,  1873. 

G.  W.  Thompson,  New  Jersey,  Jan.,  1873,  to  Nov.,  1875. 

M.  Whitehead,  New  Jersey,  Nov.,  1875,  to  Nov.,  1877. 

Wm.  Sims,  Kansas,  Nov.,  1877,  to  Nov.,  1881. 

J.  J.  Rosa,  Delaware,  Nov.,  1881,  to  Nov.,  1885. 

W.  H.  Stinson,  New  Hampshire,  Nov.,  1885,  to  Nov.,  1887. 

J.  H.  Hale,  Connecticut,  Nov.,  1887,  to  Nov.,  1889. 

O.  E.  Hall,  Nebraska,  Nov.,  1889,  to  Nov.,  1893. 

A.  M.  Belcher,  Rhode  Island,  Nov.,  1893,  to  Nov.,  1895. 

J.  A.  Newcomb,  Colorado,  Nov.,  1895,  to  Nov.,  1899. 

W.  C.  Jewett,  Massachusetts,  Nov.,  1899,  to  Nov.,  1901. 

C.  O.  Raine,  Missouri,  Nov.,  1901,  to  Nov.,  1903. 

G.  W.  F.  Gaunt,  New  Jersey,  Nov.,  1903,  to  Nov.,  1905. 

F.  E.  Marchant,  Rhode  Island,  Nov.,  1905,  to  Nov.,  1907. 

i  C.  D.  Richardson,  Massachusetts,  Nov.,  1907,  to  Nov.,  1909. 
L.  H.  Healey,  Connecticut,  Nov.,  1909,  to  Nov.,  1911. 

G.  R.  Shaefer,  Wisconsin,  Nov.,  1911,  to  Nov.,  1913. 

J.  A.  Sherwood,  Connecticut,  Nov.,  1913,  to  Nov.,  1915. 
John  Morris,  Colorado,  Nov.,  1915,  to  present  (1916). 


NATIONAL  GRANGE  OFFICERS  353 

WORTHY  CHAPLAIN 

A.  B.  Grosh,  Washington,  Dec,  1867,  to  Nov.,  1875. 

S.  H.  Ellis,  Ohio,  Nov.,  1875,  to  Nov.,  1877. 

A.  P.  Forsythe,  Illinois,  Nov.,  1877,  to  Nov.,  1879. 

S.  H.  Ellis,  Ohio,  Nov.,  1879,  to  Nov.,  1881. 

H.  O.  Devries,  Maryland,  Nov.,  1881,  to  Nov.,  1885. 

A.  J.  Rose,  Texas,  Nov.,  1885,  to  Nov.,  1891. 

Chas.  McDaniel,  New  Hampshire,  Nov.,  1891,  to  Nov.,  1893. 

S.  L.  Wilson,  Mississippi,  Nov.,  1893,  to  Nov.,  1895. 

O.  H.  Hale,  New  York,  Nov.,  1S95,  to  Nov.,  1897. 

S.  O.  Bowen,  Connecticut,  Nov.,  1897,  to  Nov.,  1901. 

W.  K.  Thompson,  South  Carolina,  Nov.,  1901,  to  Nov.,  1907. 

O.  S.  Wood,  Connecticut,  Nov.,  1907,  to  Nov.,  1909. 

C.  F.  Smith,  Vermont,  Nov.,  1909,  to  Nov.,  1913. 

A.  P.  Reardon,  Kansas.,  Nov.,  1913,  to  present  (1916). 

WORTHY  TREASURER 

W.  M.  Ireland,  Washington,  D.  C,  Dec,  1867,  to  Jan.,  1872. 
J.  R.  Thompson,  Washington,  D.  C,  Jan.,  1872,  to  Jan.,  1873. 

F.  M.  McDowell,  New  York,  Jan.,  1873,  to  Nov.,  1893. 

Mrs.  E.  S.  McDowell,  New  York,  Nov.,  1893,  to  present  (1916). 

WORTHY  SECRETARY 

O.  H.  Kelley,  Minnesota,  Dec,  1867,  to  Nov.,  1878. 

W.  M.  Ireland,  Washington,  D.  C,  Nov.,  1878,  to  Nov.,  1885. 

John  Trimble,  Washington,  D.  C,    Nov.,  1885,  to  death,    Dec 

30,  1902. 
C.  M.  Freeman,  Ohio,  Jan.  3  ,1903,  to  present  (1916). 

WORTHY  GATEKEEPER 

E.  P.  Farris,  Illinois,  Dec,  1867,  to  Jan.,  1873. 
O.  Dinwiddie,  Indiana,  Jan.,  1873,  to  Nov.,  1881. 
J.  V.  Scott,  Arkansas,  Nov.,  1881,  to  Nov.,  1883. 
Jas.  Draper,  Massachusetts,  Nov.,  1883,  to  Nov.,  1885. 
H.  Thompson,  Delaware,  Nov.,  1885,  to  Nov.,  1887. 
A.  N.  Brown,  Delaware,  Nov.,  1887,  to  Nov.,  1889. 
A.  E.  Page,  Missouri,  Nov.,  1889,  to  Nov.,  1891. 
W.  H.  Nelson,  Tennessee,  Nov.,  1891,  to  Nov,  1893. 
W.  E.  Harbaugh,  Missouri,  Nov.,  1893,  to  Nov.,  1897. 

A.  B  Judson,  Towa,  Nov.,  1897,  to  Nov.,  1899. 

H.  E.  Huxley,  Wisconsin,  Nov.,  1899,  to  Nov.,  1901. 

G.  W.  Baird,  Minnesota,  Nov.,  1901,  to  Nov.,  1903. 

B.  C.  Patterson,  Connecticut,  Nov.,  1903,  to  Nov.,  1905. 


354  PATRONS  OF    HUSBANDRY 

A.  C.  Powers,  Wisconsin,  Nov.,  1905,  to  Nov.,  1909. 

D.  C.  Mullen,  Idaho,  Nov.,  1909,  to  Nov.,  1911. 

A.  B.  Judson,  Iowa,  Nov.,  1911,  to  Nov.,  1913. 

C.  L.  Rice,  Minnesota,  Nov.,  1913,  to  present  (1916). 

WORTHY  CERES 

Miss  Carrie  A.  Hall,  Minnesota,  Nov.  6,  1868,  to  Jan.,  1873. 

Mrs.  D.  W.  Adams,  Iowa,  Jan.,  1873,  to  Nov.,  1875. 

Mrs.  J.  T.  Jones,  Arkansas,  Nov.,  1875,  to  Nov.,  1877. 

Mrs.  S.  E.  Adams,  Minnesota,  Nov.,  1877,  to  Nov.,  1879. 

Mrs.  J.  J.  Woodman,  Michigan,  Nov.,  1879,  to  Nov.,  1885. 

Mrs.  K.  A.  Darden,  Mississippi,  Nov.,  1885,  to  Nov.,  1889. 

Mrs.  J.  H.  Brigham,  Ohio,  Nov.,  1889,  to  Nov.,  1893. 

Mrs.  M.  S.  Rhone,  Pennsylvania,  Nov.,  1893,  to  Nov.,  1895. 

Mrs.  L.  G.  Smith,  Ohio,  Nov.,  1895,  to  Nov.,  1897. 

Mrs.  L.  M.  Messick,  Delaware,  Nov.,  1897,  to  Nov.,  1899 

Mrs.  Cordelia  Atkeson,  West  Virginia,  Nov.,  1899,  to  Nov.,  1901. 

Mrs.  M.  M.  Wilson,  Illinois,  Nov.,  1901,  to  Nov.,  1905. 

Mrs.  C.  R.  F.  Ladd,  Massachusetts,  Nov.,  1905,  to  Nov.,  1907. 

Mrs.  E.  H.  Patterson,  Maryland,  Nov.,  1907,  to  Nov.,  1911. 

Mrs.  E.  E.  Pattee,  New  Hampshire,  Nov.,  1911,  to  Nov.,  1915. 

Mrs.  Eva  Sherwood,  Connecticut,  Nov.,  1915,  to  present  (1916). 

WORTHY  POMONA 

Mrs.  O.  H.  Kelley,  Washington,  D.  C,  Jan.,  1873,  to  Feb.,  1874. 

Mrs.  Thos.  Taylor,  South  Carolina,  Feb.,  1874,  to  Nov.,  1875. 

Mrs.  H.  Godard,  Connecticut,  Nov.,  1875,  to  Nov.,  1877. 

Mrs.  J.  J.  Woodman,  Michigan,  Nov.,  1877,  to  Nov.,  1879. 

Mrs.  M.  L.  Darden,  Mississippi,  Nov.,  1879,  to  Nov.,  1884. 

Mrs.  S.  J.  Blanton,  Virginia,  Nov.,  1884,  to  Nov.,  1885. 

Mrs.  S.  H.  Neal,  Kentucky,  Nov.,  1885,  to  Nov.,  1887. 

Mrs.  J.  C.  Draper,  Massachusetts,  Nov.,  1887,  to  Nov.,  1889. 

Mrs.  M.  J.  Thompson,  Nov.,  1889,  to  Nov.,  1891. 

Mrs.  C.  E.  Bowen,  Connecticut,  Nov.,  1891,  to  Nov.,  1893. 

Mrs.  M.  M.  Reardon,  Kansas,  Nov.,  1893,  to  Nov.,  1895. 

Mrs.  S.  G.  Baird,  Minnesota,  Nov.,  1895,  to  Nov.,  1899. 

Mrs.  M.  M.  Wilson,  Illinois,  Nov.,  1899,  to  Nov.,  1901. 

Mrs.  Cordelia  Atkeson,  West  Virginia,  Nov.,  1901,  to  Nov.,  1903. 

Mrs.  E.  M.  Derbey,  Delaware,  Nov.,  1903,  to  Nov.,  1905. 

Mrs.  S.  G.  Baird,  Minnesota,  Nov.,  1905,  to  Nov.,  1909. 

Mrs.  Grace  Hull,  Michigan,  Nov.,  1909,  to  Nov.,  1911. 

Mrs.  Cordelia  Atkeson,  West  Virginia,  Nov.,  1911,  to  Nov.,  1913. 

Mrs.  Cora  E.  Ketcham,  Michigan,  Nov.,  1913,  to  present  (1916). 

WORTHY  FLORA 

Mrs.  J.  C.  Abbott,  Iowa,  Jan.,  1873,  to  Feb.,  1874. 
Mrs.  J.  T.  Moore,  Maryland,  Feb.,  1874,  to  Nov.,  1875. 


NATIONAL  GRANGE  OFFICERS  355 

Mrs.  S.  E.  Adams,  Minnesota,  Nov.,  1875,  to  Nov.,  1877. 

Mrs.  J.  T.  Moore,  Maryland,  Nov.,  1877,  to  Nov.,  1879. 

Mrs.  E.  M.  Nicholson,  New  Jersey,  Nov.,  1879,  to  Nov.,  1885. 

Mrs.  J.  C.  Draper,  Massachusetts,  Nov.,  1885,  to  Nov.,  1887. 

Mrs.  M.  E.  Luce,  Michigan,  Nov.,  1887,  to  Nov.,  1889. 

Mrs.  Jos.  Bailey,  Mississippi,  Nov.,  1889,  to  Nov.,  1891. 

Mrs.  E.  P.  Wilson,  Mississippi,  Nov.,  1891,  to  Nov.,  1893. 

Mrs.  A.  L.  Bull,  Minnesota,  Nov.,  1893,  to  Nov.,  1895. 

Mrs.  E.  L.  A.  Wiggin,  Maine,  Nov.,  1895,  to  Nov.,  1899. 

Mrs.  Ida  V.  High,    Washington,  Nov.,  1899,  to  Nov.,  1901. 

Mrs.  S.  B.  Wolcott,  Kentucky,  Nov.,  1901,  to  Nov.,  1903. 

Mrs.  P.  S.  Raine,  Missouri,  Nov.,  1903,  to  Nov.,  1905. 

Mrs.  A.  M.  Horton,  Michigan,  Nov.,  1905,  to  Nov.,  1907. 

Mrs.  Ida  Judson,  Iowa,  Nov.,  1907,  to  Nov.,  1913. 

Mrs.  Ella  Peckham,  Rhode  Island,  Nov.,  1913  to  present  (1916). 

WORTHY  LADY  ASSISTANT  STEWARD 

Miss  Carrie  A.  Hall,  Washington,  D.  C,  Jan.,  1873,  to  Nov.,  1879. 
Mrs.  H.  A.  Sims,  Kansas,  Nov.,  1879,  to  Nov.,  1885. 
Mrs.  E.  M.  Lipscomb,  South  Carolina,  Nov.,  1885,  to  Nov.,  1887. 
Mrs.  H.  A.  Sims,  Kansas,  Nov.,  1887,  to  Nov.,  1889. 
Mrs.  L.  C.  Douglas,  Massachusetts,  Nov.,  1889,  to  Nov.,  1893. 
Mrs.  A.  M.  Horton,  Michigan,  Nov.,  1893,  to  Nov.,  1895. 
Mrs.  S.  G.  Knott,  West  Virginia,  Nov.,  1895,  to  Nov.,  1897. 
Mrs.  A.  M.  Horton,  Michigan,  Nov.,  1897,  to  Nov.,  1901. 
Mrs.  W.  F.  Hill,  Pennsylvania,  Nov.,  1901,  to  Nov.,  1903. 
Mrs.  H.  C.  Raap,  California,  Nov.,  1903,  to  Nov.,  1905. 
Mrs.  Joanna  M.  Walker,  Delaware,  Nov.,  1905,  to  Nov.,  1909. 
Mrs.  Mary  H.  Smith,  Vermont,  Nov.,  1909,  to  Nov.,  1913. 
Mrs.  Mable  A.  Harland,  Idaho,  Nov.,  1913,  to  present  (1916). 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

Wm.  Saunders,  Washington,  D.  C,  Jan.,  1873,  to  Nov.,  1875. 

D.  W.  Aiken,  South  Carolina,  Jan.,  1873,  to  Nov.,  1885. 

E.  R.  Shankland,  Iowa,  Jan.,  1873,  to  Nov.,  1876. 

D.  T.  Chase,  New  Hampshire,  Feb.,  1875,  to  Nov.,  1877. 

J.  T.  Jones,  Arkansas,  Feb.,  1875,  to  Nov.,  1875. 

A.  Golder,  Illinois,  Nov.,  1875,  to  Nov.,  1877. 

W.  H.  Chambers,  Alabama,  Nov.,  1875,  to  Nov.,  1877. 

H.  James,  Indiana,  Nov.,  1876,  to  Nov.,  1882. 

S.  E.  Adams,  Minnesota,  Nov.,  1877,  to  Nov.,  1879. 

S.  H.  Ellis,  Ohio,  Nov.,  1877,  to  Nov.,  1879. 

W.  G.  Wayne,  New  York,  Nov.,  1879,  to  Nov.,  1881. 

J.  M.  Blanton,  Virginia,  Nov.,  1881,  to  Nov.,  1889. 

J.  H.  Brigham,  Ohio,  Nov.,  1882,  to  Nov.,  1888. 

J.  J.  Woodman,  Michigan,  Nov.,  1885,  to  Nov.,  1902. 

L.  Rhone,  Pennsylvania,  Nov.,  1888,  to  Nov.,  1898. 


356  PATRONS  OF   HUSBANDRY 

X.  X.  Chartters,  Virginia,  Nov.,  1889,  to  Nov.,  1893. 

R.  R.  Hutchinson,  Virginia,  Nov.,  1893,  to  Nov.,  1895. 

N.  J.  Bachelder,  New  Hampshire,  Nov.,  1895,  to  Nov.,  1899. 

S.  H.  Messick,  Delaware,  Nov.,  1898  to  Nov.,  1900. 

E.  B.  Norris,  New  York,  Nov.,  1899,  to  Nov.,  1907. 
C.  J.  Bell,  Vermont,  Nov.,  1900,  to  Nov.,  1909. 

F.  A.  Derthick,  Ohio,  Nov.,  1902,  to  Nov.,  1908. 

F.  N.  Godfrey,  New  York,  Nov.,  1907,  to  Nov.,  1913. 
C.  O.  Raine,  Missouri,  Nov.,  1908,  to  Nov.,  1914. 
S.  H.  Messick,  Delaware,  Nov.,  1909,  to  Nov.,  1912. 
C.  S.  Stetson,  Maine,  Nov.,  1912,  to  present  (1916). 
A.  B.  Judson,  Iowa,  Nov.,  1913,  to  present  (1916). 
W.  N.  Cady,  Vermont,  Nov.,  1914,  to  present  (1916). 


APPENDIX 
Annual  Sessions  of  the  National  Grange 


DATE 

PLACE 

MASTER 

1867, 

December 

4... 

Washington,  D.  C. 

Birthday. 

1868 

January 

7... 

Washington,  D.  C. 

William  Saunders. 

1869, 

April 

13... 

Washington,  D.  C. 

William  Saunders. 

1870, 

January 

25... 

Washington,  D.  C. 

William  Saunders. 

1871, 

January 

4... 

Washington,  D.  C. 

William  Saunders. 

1872 

January 

3... 

Washington,  D.  C. 

William  Saunders. 

1873 

January 

8... 

Georgetown,  D.  C. 

William  Saunders. 

1874 

February 

4... 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

D.  W.  Adams. 

1875 

February 

3... 

Charleston,  S.  C. 

D.  W.  Adams. 

1875, 

November 

17... 

Louisville,  Ky. 

D.  W.  Adams. 

1876 

November 

15... 

Chicago,  111. 

John  T.  Jones. 

1877 

November 

21... 

Cincinnati,  O. 

John  T.  Jones. 

1S78 

November 

20... 

Richmond,  Va,. 

S.  E.  Adams. 

1879 

November 

19... 

Canandaigua,  N.  Y. 

S.  E.  Adams. 

1880 

November 

17... 

Washington,  D.  C. 

J.  J.  Woodman. 

1881 

November 

16... 

Washington,  D.  C. 

J.  J.  Woodman. 

1882 

November 

15... 

Indianapolis,  Ind. 

J.  J.  Woodman. 

1883 

November 

21... 

Washington,  D.  C. 

J.  J.  Woodman. 

1884 

November 

25 .  .  . 

Nashville,  Tenn. 

J.  J.  Woodman. 

1885 

November 

11... 

Boston,  Mass. 

J.  J.  Woodman. 

1886 

November 

10... 

Philadelphia,    Pa. 

Put  Darden. 

1887 

November 

16... 

Lansing,  Mich. 

Put  Darden. 

1888 

November 

14... 

Topeka,  Kan. 

James  Draper. 

1889 

November 

13... 

Sacramento,  Cal. 

J.  H.  Brigham. 

1890 

November 

12... 

Atlanta,  Ga. 

J.  H.  Brigham. 

1891 

November 

11... 

Springfield,  O. 

J.  H.  Brigham. 

1892 

November 

16... 

Concord,  N.  H. 

J.  H.  Brigham. 

1893 

November 

15... 

Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

J.  H.  Brigham. 

1894 

November 

14... 

Springfield,  111. 

J.  H.  Brigham. 

1895 

November 

13... 

Worcester,  Mass. 

J.  H.  Brigham. 

1 896 

November 

11... 

Washington,  D.  C. 

J.  H.  Brigham. 

1897 

November 

10... 

Harrisburg,  Pa. 

J.  H.  Brigham. 

1898 

November 

16... 

Concord,  N.  H. 

Aaron  Jones. 

1899 

November 

15... 

Springfield,  O. 

Aaron  Jones. 

1900 

November 

14... 

Washington,  D.  C. 

Aaron  Jones. 

1901 

November 

13... 

Lewiston,  Me. 

Aaron  Jones. 

1902 

November 

12... 

Lansing,  Mich. 

Aaron  Jones. 

1903 

November 

11... 

Rochester,  N.  Y. 

Aaron  Jones. 

1904 

November 

16... 

Portland,  Ore. 

Aaron  Jones. 

1 905 

November 

15... 

Atlantic  City,  N.  J. 

Aaron  Jones. 

L906 

November 

14... 

Denver,  Col. 

N.J.  Bachelder. 

1907 

November 

13... 

Hartford,  Conn. 

N.J.  Bachelder. 

L908 

November 

11... 

Washington,  D.  C. 

N.J.  Bachelder. 

1909 

November 

10... 

Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

N.J.  Bachelder. 

1910 

November 

16.  .. 

Atlantic  City,  N.  J. 

N.J.  Bachelder. 

1911 

,  November 

15... 

Columbus,  O. 

N.J.  Bachelder. 

L912 

,    November 

13... 

Spokane,  Wash. 

Oliver  Wilson. 

1913 

,  November 

12... 

Manchester,  N.  II. 

Oliver  Wilson. 

1914 

,   November 

11.  .. 

Wilmington,    Del. 

Oliver  Wilson. 

1915 

,   November 

10... 

Oakland,  Cal. 

Oliver  Wilson. 

1916 

,   Novemb'  r 

15... 

Washington,   D.  C. 

Oliver  Wilson. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Covering  a  period  of  fifty  years,  an  immense  quan- 
tity of  material  has  accumulated  which,  more  or  less, 
deals  with  the  Order  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  Those 
desiring  to  study  this  material  may  find  practically  all 
of  it  which  is  now  available  listed  and  located  in  the 
Bibliography  printed  in  "The  Granger  Movement"  by 
Dr.  S.  J.  Buck,  published  in  1913. 

Under  the  head  of  "Public  Documents"  will  be 
found  many  official  reports  of  Committees  of  Congress 
and  Commissions  of  various  kinds. 

Under  the  "State  Documents"  will  be  found  reference 
to  a  mass  of  state  publications  dealing  with  legislatures, 
courts  and  commissions. 

Documents  of  agricultural  organizations  under  the 
headings  "National"  and  "State"  include  National  and 
State  Grange  Journals  and  miscellaneous  matter. 

Under  "Newspapers"  is  listed  nearly  200  agricultural 
and  Grange  newspapers.  About  175  of  these  papers 
that  were  devoted  to  the  Grange  movement  started 
after  1870  and  suspended  by  1880.  Not  a  single  one 
of  the  papers  which  started,  all  over  the  country,  in 
support  of  the  Grange  in  the  early  days  of  the  Order, 
has  continued  publication  to  the  present. 

Under  the  head  of  "Miscellaneous  Material"  may 
be  found  a  long  list  of  books,  pamphlets  and  other  pub- 
lications dealing  with  the  Grange. 

Another  list  deals  with  publications  on  Organization. 

Another  class  of  publications  is  found  under  the 
heading  "Co-operation." 

Everything  dealing  with  railroads  and  the  Grange  is 
listed  together. 

The  libraries  and  other  places  where  all  this  mass  of 
historical  material  may  be  found  is  indicated,  and  every 
student  of  the  Grange  and  Grange  history  must  remain 

358 


BIBLIOGRAPHY  359 

under  obligation  to  Dr.  Buck  for  the  immense  amount 

of  work  he  has  done  in  compiling  his  Grange  "Bibli- 
ography."   It  is  too  long  for  republication  here. 

Below  we  give  a  brief  list  of  the  books  in  most  per- 
manent form,  which  deal  entirely  or  largely  with  the 

Grange  Movement : 

National  Grange  Journal  of  Proceedings,  from  the  6th 
to  the  49th  Session. 

State  Grange  Journals  of  Proceedings. 

National  Grange  Digest  of  Law,  etc.,  1915  edition. 

iCyclopedia   of   American    Agriculture     1909;    L.    H. 
Bailey. 

Chapters  on  Rural  Progress,  1908;  K.  L.  Butterfield. 

Monopolies  and  the  People,  1873  >  D.  C.  Cloud. 

Industrial  History  of  the  United  States,  1905 ;  Kath- 
erine  Coman. 

Historical  Sketch  of  the  United  States  Department  of 
Agriculture,  1898;  C.  H.  Greathouse. 

The  Riddle  of  the  Sphinx,  1890 ;  N.  B.  Ashby. 

Early  History  of  the  Order  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry, 
1904;  J.  W.  Darrow. 

The  Grange,  A  Study  in  the  Science  of  Society,  1874; 
Gracchus  Americanus. 

Mentor  in  the  Granges,  and  Homes  of  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandry, 1876;  Aaron  B.  Grosh. 

The  Patrons'  Handbook,  1874;  J.  K.  Hudson. 

Origin  and  Progress  of  the  Order  of  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandry in  the  United  States,  1875 ;  O.  H.  Kelley. 

History  of  the  Grange  Movement,  1874;  E.  W.  Martin. 

The  Groundswell,  1874;  Jonathan  Periam. 

The  Grange  Illustrated,  1874;  John  G.  Wells. 

The  Granger  Movement,  1913;  Dr.  S.  J.  Buck. 


INDEX 


A  PAGE 

Accomplishments   of  Grange 130 

Achievements  of  Grange 130 

Adams,  Dudley  W.,  administration  61 
Adams,    Dudley    W.,    biographical 

sketch 328 

Adams,   Samuel   E 93 

Adams,    Samuel    E.,    biographical 

sketch 330 

Agriculture,  Bureau  of 4 

colleges 87,  212 

college  endowed  123 

credit    282 

extension    260 

following  war 7 

in  schools    101 

National    aid    4 

National   Board  of 4 

Philadelphia  Society  for 3 

Secretary   of    86,  183 

societies    3 

Anti-Trust    Law    215 

Arbitration 143,  229 

Army  increased 299 

Atkeson  on  war  sentiment 234 

Atkeson,  Thomas  Clark,  biograph- 
ical sketch   343 

B 

Bachelder,  administration   243 

Bachelder,  Nahum  J.,  biographical 

sketch 338 

Baird,     Sarah      G.,     biographical 

sketch 340 

Ballot,    reform    313 

Ballot,  use  of 139 

Bank,  Central   272 

Banking  reform    272 

Bartlett,  Anson    21 

Beginning    of   Grange 7 

Brigham,  J.  H.,  administration...  146 
Brigham,      J.      H.,      biographical 

sketch 335 

Brigham,  J.  H.,  described 150 

Brigham,  J.  H.,  praised 236 

Bulletin  National  Grange 270 

Burden   of   taxation 189 

Bureau  of  animal  husbandry 109 

Business  activities  in  Grange 31 

C 

Central   Bank    272 

Central    Bank   system 266 

Coinage  of  silver 167 

Colleges,  agricultural,  demand  of    87 

Conservation    293 

Constitution   of  Grange 52 

361 


PAGE 

Co-operation 196,  268 

among  farmers 1 

business   119 

social    2 

Co-operative  association 307 

life   insurance   283 

purchasing    40 

systems 271 

Country    life  commission 254 

Country   high   schools 231 

Credit,    agricultural    282 

Currency    272 

D 
Darden,    Israel     P.,    biographical 

sketch   333 

Darden,    Put,    administration 135 

Declaration    of    purposes 69 

Department   of   agriculture..    152,  197 

Deputies  for  Grange 33 

Direct   vote   for   senators 140 

Distribution    problems 268 

Draper,  James,  biographical  sketch  334 

Draper,  James,  National  master..  146 

E 

Early   agricultural   societies 3 

Education   226 

Eighteenth  session  125 

Eighth    session    74 

Eleventh    session    88 

Endowment   fund  of  Grange 293 

Equalization  of  taxation 143 

Establishing    the    Grange 25 

Experiment   station   bill    indorsed.  141 

Experiment  stations 151,313 

Extension  of  Grange 278 

F 

Farmers'  Alliance  115 

Farm  Credit  Association 287 

Farm  credits   30 1 

Farmer  for  Secretary  of  Agricul- 
ture     191 

Farmer  fraternity   5 

Farmers,  co-operation  among. ...       1 

Farmers    in    politics 171,268 

Farmers,  organization  of. .  4,  160,  225 

Farm  school    259 

Fifteenth  session    110 

Fiftieth   anniversary 295 

Fifth  session   43 

Financial  system   of  Grange 221 

First   Grange  paper 32 

First   master's   address 35 

First  session   19 

First  State  Grange 28 


362 


INDEX 


PAGE 

Food  adulteration 194,  206 

Fortieth   session 243 

Forty-eighth  session    289 

Forty-fifth  session    271 

Forty-first  session    247 

Forty-fourth   session    264 

Forty-ninth   session 296 

Forty-second  session   253 

Forty-seventh   session    281 

Forty-sixth  session 277 

Founders  of  order 65 

Fourteenth    session    102 

Fourth   session    40 

Fraternity   for   farmers 5 

Fredonia  Grange 40 

Fredonia  Grange  No.  1 24 

Free  delivery  of  mails 162,  215 

Freeman,  Charles  M.,  biographical 

sketch    346 

Free  passes   214 

Free  rural  delivery   194,  313 

Freight  rates  270 

G 

Government   ownerships    of   tele- 
graph      283 

Government   ownerships    of   tele- 
phones      280 

Grange,  a  builder 245 

achievements 233,  292,  304 

agricultural   clearing  house..  215 

and  politics   279 

as  a  social  order 310 

beginning   17 

birthday   of    20 

blue  book 31 

bulletin   270 

constitution   of    52 

dangers 273 

endowment    fund    293 

establishing  of   25 

fifth   session    43 

first  delegate  session 48 

first  meeting  of 19 

for   service    269 

founders  106 

funds  donated 80 

greatest  growth  of 81 

influence  290 

in  south   41 

manufacturing  enterprises    . .  89 

many  names  for 17 

materialism 91 

membership   309 

members,  total    350 

National    Grange    monthly. . .  274 

No.   1    24 

office,  Kentucky    79 

officers,  National 351 

organizing  work   30 

paper    32 

permanent   organization    ....  43 

plan  of  organization 22 


PAGE 

Grange,  policy 244 

preamble  of 51 

publication   251 

silver  jubilee  174 

what  it  stands  for 128 

work    194 

Granger  movement   305,  311 

Granger  revolt    62 

Grosh,     Aaron     B.,     biographical 

sketch    326 

Grosh,  A.  B 22 

H 

Hall,      Carrie      A.,      biographical 

sketch   347 

Hall,  Carrie  A.,  first  woman  officer    28 

Hall,  Carrie  A.,  recognized 169 

Hall,   Miss   Carrie  A 28 

Harmony   in    Grange 205 

Highway  improvement 259,  282 

I 

Income   tax    266 

Industrial  union    119 

Interstate  Commerce  Commission,  100 
144,  193,  270 

Intoxicating  liquors 283 

Iowa  State  Grange 40 

Ireland,  W.  M 14,    21 

Ireland,  W.  M.,  biographical  sketch,  324 

J 
Jones,  Aarcn,  administration  ....  201 
Jones,  Aaron,  biographical  sketch,  337 
Jones,  John  T.,  administration...     83 
Jones,  John        T.,        biographical 

sketch   329 

Justice  in   agriculture 217 

K 

Kelley,  at  silver  jubilee 175 

Kelley,  enthusiasm  of 24 

Kelley,  in   the   south 13 

Kelley  goes  to  Washington 11 

Kelley,  Oliver   H 6,     21 

Kelley,  Oliver      H.,      biographical 

sketch    315 

Kelley,  O.  H.,  given  annuity 239 

Kelley,  Secretary,   resigns    95 

Kentucky  in  Grange  list 41 

L 

Labor  troubles 178 

Land  grant  colleges 87 

Landlord  and  tenant. 307 

Legislative  Committee  133 

Legislative  policies     291 

Life   insurance,   co-operative 283 

Loans  of  postal  savings  banks     .  283 

Local   stores    98 

Louisville    objected    to    as    head- 
quarters    94 

Lubin  proposition   182,  19§ 


INDEX 


363 


M  PAGE 

Manufacturing        enterprise        of 

Grange    89 

Many  names  for  Grange 17 

Master's    address,   first 35 

McDowell,  Eva     S.,     biographical 

sketch    341 

McDowell,  Francis   M.,   biographi- 
cal sketch 322 

McDowell,  F.  M.,   20 

Membership  of  Grange 350 

Memorial  services 144 

Michigan   organized    46 

Minnesota  Monthly 32 

Monopolies   discussed    36 

Monopolizing  water  power 284 

Monthly,   National  Grange 274 

More  equitable  tax  laws 283 

Moss,  A.  S 21 

Muir,  William   21 

N 

National  farmers'    alliance    115 

National  Grange,  beginning  of. . .       7 

bulletin   270 

extension  of 19 

first  and  second  sessions 19 

fourth  session  36 

monthly  .: 279 

officers      351 

organization  of  19 

third  session    30 

Navy  increased    299 

New  England  first  organized 47 

Nineteenth  session   127 

Ninth  session    79 

O 

Officers,  National  Grange 351 

Official  organ  of  Grange 259,  269 

Oleomargarine 282 

Order,  beginning   of    7 

Order,  Founders  of   65 

Organization   among  farmers..    1,       4 

P 

Panama    Canal    204 

Parcels   Post    241,265 

Patent  laws    97 

Patrons  day 297 

Patrons   of  husbandry 6 

Political  methods 122 

Political  significance 118 

Political  unrest   121 

Politics  and  the  Grange 279 

Populist  party   155 

Postal  savings  banks   200,  215 

Postal  telegraph   162 

Preamble  of  Grange 51 

Preparedness   299 

Press   friendly  to  Grange 115 

Proclamation  greeting   164 

Producers'  convention   36 

Programs,  educational   36 


PAGE 

Promoting  agriculture   3 

Protective  tariff  system 180 

Public  accounting  law 250 

Publicity  for  corporation  evils....  250 

Pure  food 143 

Pure  food  law 215 

R 

Railroads,  true  value  of 271 

Railroads,  value   of    283 

Resolution   not  effective 139 

Resolution    on    humane   treatment 

of  live  stock 96 

Road   improvement 283,294 

Rochdale,  plan  of  co-operation...     81 

Rural  communities   268 

Rural  credits 282,  286,  313 

Rural   free   delivery    198 

Rural  mail   delivery    220 

S 

Salaries,   early  Grange 50 

Saunders,  William 14,  21 

Saunders,  William,       biographical 

sketch   317 

Second  session   19 

Secretary   Morton    condemned....  172 

Secretary  of  Agriculture    86,  109,  183 

190,  285 

Secretary's   office    38 

Senators  by  direct  vote 271 

Senators,  direct   vote  of 140 

Seventeenth  session   115 

Seventh      session      of      National 

Grange    61 

Sherman  anti-trust  law 203 

Ship    subsidies    206 

Silver  jubilee   of   Grange 174 

Single   tax    190 

Sixteenth  session    115 

Sixth  session   43 

Social   co-operation    2 

Societies,   early  agricultural 3 

Speculation  in  futures  condemned,  140 

State   agents   for   Granges 31 

Subordinate  Granges,    names  for,  18 

T 

Tariff     265 

Tariff  commission   200,  248 

Tariff  legislation 301 

Tariff  question    158 

Taxation    262 

Tax   laws    283 

Temperance    313 

Temple  to  Ceres 124,  206 

Tenth   session    83 

Third   session    30 

Thirteenth   session    93 

Thirtieth    session    188 

Thirty-eighth    session    232 

Thirty-fifth    session    209 

Thirty-first   session    196 


364 


INDEX 


Thirty- fourth  session   209 

Thirty-ninth  session 237 

Thirty-second  session    ...., 201 

Thirty-seventh  session 225 

Thirty-sixth  session   218 

Thirty-third    session    204 

Thomas,   J.    T 19 

Thompson,   John    R.,   biographical 

sketch   319 

Transportation    problems    308 

Trimble,  John    12,  213 

Trimble,        John,         biographical 

sketch    320 

Trimble,  John,   honored    229 

Trusts    207, 248,  250 

Twelfth    session    93 

Twentieth    session    135 

Twenty-eighth  session 177 

Twenty-fifth  anniversary 174 

Twenty-fifth   session    160 

Twenty-first   session    135 

Twenty- fourth    session    155 

Twenty-ninth    session    182 

Twenty-second  session 146 


Twenty-seventh    session    171 

Twenty-sixth    session    166 

Twenty-third  session   151 

U 
United   States    Senators   271,282,  313 

V 

Value  of  railroads 271,  283 

Vote    for   Senators 200 

W 

Warehouses   established    86 

Wilson,  Oliver     277 

Wilson,  Oliver,        biographical 

sketch    340 

Woman  suffrage    298 

Woodman,  J.  J.,     administration..  102 
Woodman,  J.    J.,          biographical 

sketch      331 

Woodman,  J.  J.,  honored    223 

Work   of   Grange    312 

Wright,  James  W.  A.,  biographi- 
cal sketch 345 


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